2 months ago
1
The State Election Commission (SEC) has called for instrumentality amendments to grow the postal ballot installation for section assemblage elections successful Kerala to see voters supra 80 years and those engaged successful indispensable services and to present 3 further qualifying dates for elector enrolment.
These recommendations signifier portion of the SEC’s study connected the 2025 section assemblage polls which was released present connected Saturday by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan, who is owed to measurement down connected 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, connection these facilities. “Suitable amendments whitethorn beryllium made to the provisions successful the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, Kerala Municipality Act and the applicable rules to widen the postal ballot installation to the radical engaged successful subject services, indispensable services, media persons and aged radical (above 80 years), since they are incapable to formed their votes astatine the polling presumption connected the time of poll, arsenic provided successful the Representation of People Act,” the study said.
The SEC, which maintains its ain elector rotation and manages elections to section bodies, had received galore requests for postal ballots from authorities and civilian groups successful the run-up to the section assemblage polls held successful 2 phases connected December 9 and 11, 2025. At present, SEC’s postal ballots are restricted to officials straight linked to the behaviour of polls.
Enrolment dates
The SEC has suggested a instrumentality amendment to hole the qualifying dates for enrolment successful its electoral rotation arsenic January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, successful a year, the aforesaid statement followed by the EC. At present, the SEC offers lone January 1 arsenic the qualifying date.
In transportation with the section assemblage polls, the SEC has besides called for ineligible provisions to deploy the Central authorities employees successful Kerala for section assemblage election-related duties and expanding the expenditure ceiling of candidates. The Commission has besides recommended the framing of a instrumentality prohibiting the defacement of nationalist spot and for linking Aadhaar and the electoral roll.
Ward delimitation aft colonisation census
Further, the SEC has suggested that ward delimitation beryllium carried retired aft each colonisation census alternatively than each 5 years. “The Commission’s sentiment is that the delimitation should beryllium held connected the ground of the latest Census data,” Mr. Shajahan, who had besides chaired the latest State Delimitation Commission, told The Hindu.
Unique gathering recognition number
The SEC has recommended that ‘Unique Building Identification Numbers’ beryllium developed for buildings successful Kerala. Mr. Shajahan said specified numbers could assistance debar the disorder that follows fig changes aft ward delimitations.
On his tenure arsenic Commissioner, Mr. Shajahan said helium felt satisfied astatine having been capable to workout the Constitutional powers of the Commission successful a creaseless manner. His tenure, which began connected March 31, 2021, was marked by a ward delimitation workout which held arsenic Delimitation Commission chairman, a Statewide elector rotation revision, the wide predetermination to section bodies successful 2025 and 13 byelections. The five-year play besides saw the integration of IT systems successful the section assemblage predetermination process including the QField app for ward mapping and unsocial numbers for voters.
On Saturday, the Governor besides released the 2026 twelvemonth publication of the SEC and a compendium of important High Court verdicts related to section assemblage polls.
