All set for polling in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta

As many as 731 polling booths in Kozhikode district have been identified as sensitive, and authorities will deploy special forces at these locations during polling. Explaining the district’s preparedness for the second phase of the local body elections on December 11, District Collector and Election Officer Snehil Kumar Singh said 117 such booths are in Kozhikode city, while the rest fall under Kozhikode rural. Webcasting facilities will be available in 166 booths, he added.

The district has 26,82,682 voters, including 14,16,275 women, 12,66,375 men and 32 transgenders. An electronic system will be in place to monitor voter turnout, and live streaming from polling stations will be available. Voting will begin at 7 a.m., preceded by a mock poll at 6 a.m. Polling will close at 6 p.m., but voters present at the polling station by then will be allowed to cast their votes.

There are 3,097 polling stations in total — 2,411 in grama panchayats, 290 in municipalities and 396 in Corporation limits. Around 16,000 postal ballots have been issued in the district, and voters can submit them before the returning officers of the respective local bodies. Officials have arranged 1,437 vehicles to support the polling process.