A total of 244 counting centres have been established across Kerala for the upcoming local body elections, State Election Commissioner A Shajahan announced on Sunday.

Counting centres for the three-tier panchayat system will function at the block panchayat level, while those for municipalities and corporations will operate at the respective institution level. These centres will also serve as distribution points for polling materials on the eve of polling and as collection hubs afterwards, before the equipment is moved to strong rooms.

The District Election Officers will oversee polling and counting operations, while District Deputy Election Officers will monitor the distribution and secure storage of election materials.

The responsibility for arranging infrastructure and ensuring essential facilities at the centres has been assigned to Block Panchayat Secretaries and Municipal Secretaries. Detailed guidelines for infrastructure and operational procedures have already been provided to district authorities.

The Commission emphasised strict adherence to the Green Protocol, especially in the collection and disposal of waste from polling, counting, and distribution centres.

Each centre will host facilities such as Strong Rooms, Candidate Setting Centre (EVM commissioning), e-DROP, Trend software operations, data entry units, and Control Rooms. Separate distribution, receipt, and counting zones will be provided for each Returning Officer, along with individual strongrooms.

Polling will be held on December 9 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam, and on December 11 in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Counting is scheduled for December 13.