Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday stressed that the primary goal of the election process should be to achieve 100 per cent voter participation, underlining the importance of inclusive and democratic engagement.

The Governor also said the Kerala State Election Commission (SEC) should serve as a benchmark for election bodies across India, highlighting its role in strengthening transparent and efficient electoral practices.

He made these remarks after releasing a comprehensive report on the 2025 local body elections, the 2026 Election Commission Yearbook, and a compilation of key High Court judgments related to local elections, according to an official SEC statement.

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Arlekar also recognised innovation in electoral technology, presenting a certificate of appreciation to two engineering students who developed EVM Track software, aimed at enhancing electronic voting machine (EVM) monitoring and transparency.

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The event, held at Lok Bhavan, was attended by State Election Commissioner A Shahjahan and other senior officials.

The Governor’s remarks come amid a broader push to improve voter turnout, election transparency, and electoral reforms in India, with a focus on leveraging technology in elections and strengthening democratic institutions at the grassroots level.

PTI