Thiruvananthapuram, 22 Feb(HS):The Election Commission of India has initiated preliminary steps for the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, with a high-level team of senior officials scheduled to visit the State over the next two days to assess poll preparedness.

According to Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U. Kelkar, the visiting delegation will hold detailed review meetings with senior State officials and examine arrangements at multiple levels to ensure smooth conduct of the elections. The team is expected to evaluate logistical planning, infrastructure readiness, electoral roll management, and coordination among various departments involved in the polling process.

“The delegation will review preparations related to polling arrangements and interact with senior officials concerned,” Kelkar said. He added that following this initial assessment, Election Commissioners from the Election Commission of India may also visit Kerala. However, the dates for their visit have not yet been finalised.

Kerala has a total electorate of 2.69 crore voters for the upcoming Assembly election. In a significant milestone, the final electoral roll was published on Saturday. The updated voter list will be displayed at the offices of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) across the State, enabling citizens to verify their details.

The final electoral roll is also available online on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala (https://ceo.kerala.gov.in), allowing voters convenient digital access to confirm their enrollment status and other particulars.

The publication of the final voter list marks an important phase in the election calendar, setting the stage for subsequent steps such as the announcement of polling dates, nomination procedures, and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct once elections are formally notified.

With preparations gaining momentum, the State administration and election machinery are gearing up to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. The forthcoming visits by senior Election Commission officials underline the importance of meticulous planning and oversight in conducting one of the country’s most closely watched State elections.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman