Kerala gears up for 4 May vote count: 15,000+ officials, 140 centres ready for smooth tallying

Strong rooms housing EVMs and other polling equipment will be opened in the presence of candidates or their authorised representatives, along with Election Commission observers and officials.

Published May 02, 2026 | 11:49 AM ⚊ Updated May 02, 2026 | 11:49 AM

EVMs. (Supplied)

Synopsis: The counting will begin with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Each counting centre will have up to 14 tables for EVM counting, with a maximum of 14 EVMs counted per round. Separate tables will be designated for postal ballots at a ratio of one table per 500 ballots, each supervised by an ARO.

With the counting of votes for the 2026 Assembly elections scheduled for 4 May, Kerala has completed all preliminary arrangements to ensure a smooth, transparent, and efficient process.

Chief Electoral Officer- Kerala (CEO) Ratan U Kelkar confirmed that counting will commence sharply at 8 am across the state. A total of 140 counting centres spread across 43 locations have been set up, backed by a massive workforce of 15,465 officials.

This includes:
140 Returning Officers (ROs)
1,340 Additional Assistant Returning Officers (AAROs)
4,208 Micro Observers
4,208 Counting Supervisors
5,563 Counting Assistants, reflecting the scale and precision of the operation.

Also Read: Kerala Assembly post poll survey: People’s Pulse predicts a UDF surge; LDF faces heat

Counting process

The counting will begin with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Each counting centre will have up to 14 tables for EVM counting, with a maximum of 14 EVMs counted per round. Separate tables will be designated for postal ballots at a ratio of one table per 500 ballots, each supervised by an ARO.

Strong rooms housing EVMs and other polling equipment will be opened in the presence of candidates or their authorised representatives, along with Election Commission observers and officials.

The entire process will be duly recorded to ensure transparency.

After each round, Form 17C (Account of Votes Recorded) will be placed alongside the control unit for verification.

Any discrepancies between EVM vote counts and booth-level data will trigger a mandatory VVPAT verification.

To maintain accuracy, VVPAT slips—which display the serial number, candidate name, and symbol—will be checked in case of inconsistencies.

Additionally, five booths per constituency will undergo mandatory VVPAT verification, and two EVM observers will be randomly assigned per round.

The data recorded in EVMs will be cross-verified with Part I of Form 17C, ensuring consistency between machine data and official polling records.

Strict protocols for candidates and agents

Detailed guidelines have been issued to candidates and their agents to maintain order and integrity during counting:

Do’s:

Wear visible identity cards at all times
Submit Form 18 (Appointment Order) at least one hour before counting
Follow instructions of RO and ARO
Sit only in designated areas
Maintain secrecy of voting as per legal provisions

Don’ts:

Do not touch EVMs or official documents
Ineligible individuals, including ministers, cannot act as counting agents
Misconduct will lead to expulsion from the counting hall
Entry is restricted to authorised personnel with valid passes

Officials also added that, “An Index Card, a comprehensive election report, will be prepared based on data submitted by Returning Officers through ECInet.”

This will be verified by the CEO within 48 hours and forwarded to the Election Commission of India.

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