The State Election Commission has issued a notification for special elections to three local self-government wards where polling was postponed following the death of candidates. Voting will be held on January 12, 2026 (Monday), from 7 am to 6 pm, with counting scheduled for 10 am on January 13.

Nominations can be filed until December 24, with scrutiny slated for December 26. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 29.

The special polls will be held in the Payimbadam ward of Moothedam grama panchayat in Malappuram, the Onakkoor ward of Pampakuda grama panchayat in Ernakulam, and the Vizhinjam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

At Pampakuda, the election was deferred following the death of Congress candidate C S Babu (59), who collapsed at his residence. In Moothedam, polling was postponed after IUML candidate Vattath Haseena (52), an anganwadi worker, collapsed and died at her home shortly after returning from campaigning. The Vizhinjam ward election was put off following the death of independent candidate Justin Francis (60), who was fatally injured after being hit by an autorickshaw while campaigning.

Candidates who were in the fray when the elections scheduled on December 9 and 11 were cancelled need not submit nomination papers again. Fresh nominations, however, may be filed until December 24. The Election Commission clarified that candidates who had withdrawn their nominations before the cancellation will not remain in the contest and must file fresh papers if they wish to contest again.

Candidates must submit their election expenditure statements to the respective local body secretaries by February 12, 2026. The Model Code of Conduct will be in force across the entire Moothedam and Pampakuda grama panchayats and will apply only to the Vizhinjam ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.