Thiruvananthapuram: Voter turnout in Kerala’s Assembly elections held on 9 April has tentatively increased to 79.70 per cent following the inclusion of postal ballots from service voters, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Kelkar noted that the polling percentage had initially stood at 79.63 per cent, excluding service voters. The inclusion of their ballots has pushed the figure up by 0.07 percentage points.

A total of 53,984 postal ballots were issued to service voters, of which 20,028 had been received as of 1 May. Kelkar added that service voters are permitted to submit their ballots until just before counting begins. He also directed the postal department to ensure that all such ballots, including those received on weekends and holidays, are promptly handed over to returning officers.

“The current turnout stands at 79.70 per cent on a tentative basis. The final figure will be declared after the Election Commission of India releases its official index card, typically 48 hours after counting,” he said.

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Counting of votes for all 140 Assembly constituencies will commence at 8:00 am on Monday across 43 centres in the state. In line with Election Commission guidelines, postal ballots will be counted first, followed by Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes after a 30-minute interval.

Kelkar said round-wise counting data would be updated in real time on the Election Commission’s mobile application and official results portal.

Extensive arrangements have been made for the counting process, with 15,465 personnel deployed and 32,301 police staff, including 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), assigned to ensure security at counting centres.

Each constituency will have a dedicated counting observer, primarily senior IAS officers, to oversee proceedings. Entry into counting centres will be restricted to individuals carrying QR code-based identity cards.

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Kelkar emphasised that all counting and security personnel have undergone thorough training, with strict instructions to maintain accuracy and discipline. “There is no award for finishing first, but any lapse will invite strict disciplinary action,” he said.

District administrations have also been authorised to regulate or restrict victory processions if necessary to maintain law and order. The Model Code of Conduct will remain in force until 6 May, or until further notice.

Kelkar further cautioned against the spread of misinformation related to election results, warning that legal action would be taken against those disseminating false information. “The public should rely only on official updates from the Election Commission,” he added.