Thiruvananthapuram: The first phase of the 2025 Kerala local body elections will be held on Tuesday, December 9, across seven districts—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam. In this phase, 11,168 wards across 595 local bodies will go to the polls, including 471 grama panchayats (8,310 wards), 75 block panchayats (1,090 wards), 7 district panchayats (164 wards), 39 municipalities (1,371 wards), and three corporations (233 wards).

The second phase will take place on December 11 in the remaining districts, covering 12,408 wards in 604 local bodies. Counting for both phases is scheduled for December 13 at 8 am, with results made available in real time via TREND software.

A total of 75,643 candidates are contesting statewide, including 36,034 men, 39,609 women, and one transgender candidate. Phase One has 36,630 candidates: 27,141 in grama panchayats, 3,366 in block panchayats, 594 in district panchayats, 4,480 in municipalities, and 1,049 in corporations. 

Phase Two will see 39,013 candidates: 28,288 in grama panchayats, 3,742 in block panchayats, 681 in district panchayats, 5,551 in municipalities, and 751 in corporations. In 14 wards in Kannur and two wards in Kasaragod, candidates were elected unopposed.

Kerala has 2,86,24,558 registered voters (1,34,99,102 men, 1,51,25,169 women, 287 transgender), including 3,749 overseas voters. 

Phase One has 1,32,83,789 voters (62,51,219 men, 70,32,444 women, 126 transgender, 456 overseas), while Phase Two has 1,53,40,769 voters (72,47,883 men, 80,92,725 women, 161 transgender, 3,293 overseas).

Polling will be conducted from 7 am to 6 pm, preceded by a mock poll at 6 am in the presence of candidates and agents. A total of 33,711 polling stations have been set up, 15,432 for Phase 1 and 18,279 for Phase 2, equipped with electricity, drinking water, ramps, resting areas, and queue management facilities. Special assistance will be provided for senior citizens and persons who are specially abled. Voters may present Voter ID, Aadhaar, Driving Licence, Passport, PAN Card, bank passbook with photo, SSLC book with photo, or voter slip as ID proof. Overseas voters must carry their original passport.

Over 1,80,000 polling personnel and 70,000 police officers have been deployed. Security arrangements include police presence at all polling stations, webcasting and videography in vulnerable booths, and secure storage of EVMs in strong rooms.

Campaigning for Phase One ended at 6 pm on December 7, and for Phase Two, it will end at 6 pm on December 9. Police have been instructed to ensure peaceful conduct. According to the State Election Commission, strict action will be taken under the Representation of the People Act and Kerala Panchayat/Municipality laws against violations, including bogus voting, impersonation, booth capturing, attacks on polling staff, or destruction of election materials, with criminal cases filed against offenders.