Kerala State Election Commission recommends expansion of postal ballot facility, three additional qualifying dates for voter enrolment

Kerala's Election Commission proposes postal ballot expansion and new enrolment dates for enhanced voter participation in 2025 elections.

The State Election Commission (SEC) has called for law amendments to expand the postal ballot facility for local body elections in Kerala to include voters above 80 years and those engaged in essential services and to introduce three additional qualifying dates for voter enrolment.  

These recommendations form part of the SEC’s report on the 2025 local body polls which was released here on Saturday by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan, who is due to step down on Monday, said.

In making them, the Kerala SEC has taken a cue from the Election Commission of India (EC) which, tasked with handling elections to State Assemblies and Parliament, offer these facilities. “Suitable amendments may be made to the provisions in the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, Kerala Municipality Act and the relevant rules to extend the postal ballot facility to the people engaged in military services, essential services, media persons and aged people (above 80 years), since they are unable to cast their votes at the polling station on the day of poll, as provided in the Representation of People Act,” the report said.

The SEC, which maintains its own voter roll and manages elections to local bodies, had received numerous requests for postal ballots from government and civilian groups in the run-up to the local body polls held in two phases on December 9 and 11, 2025. At present, SEC’s  postal ballots are restricted to officials directly linked to the conduct of polls.

The SEC has suggested a law amendment to fix the qualifying dates for  enrolment in its electoral roll as January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, in a year, the same arrangement followed by the EC. At present, the SEC offers only January 1 as the qualifying date.

In connection with the local body polls, the SEC has also called for legal provisions to deploy the Central government employees in Kerala for local body election-related duties and increasing the expenditure ceiling of candidates. The Commission has also recommended the framing of a law prohibiting the defacement of public property and for linking Aadhaar and the electoral roll.