Kerala SEC Releases Draft Voter List, Opens Registration Process

The Kerala State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the release of the draft voter list on September 29, 2023, allowing for corrections and new registrations ahead of upcoming elections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published by October 25, 2023.

Chief Electoral Officer A Shajahan confirmed that the draft list will include 28,312,458 voters, comprising 13,352,947 males, 14,959,235 females, and 276 transgender individuals. Notably, this draft will register 2,087 new voters. Citizens can access the draft list at district and taluk offices as well as on the SEC website, sec.kerala.gov.in.

Voters will have until October 14, 2023, to make any necessary corrections to their details. Individuals who will turn 18 years old by January 1, 2025, are eligible to register. Applications for inclusion, correction, or deletion of names can be submitted online using Forms 4, 6, and 7. Once an application is submitted, a hearing notice will be generated, and applicants must attend with the required documentation.

For those wishing to delete their names from the list, Form 5 must be registered online and then submitted to the electoral registration officer either in person or by post.

Polling Stations and Verification Process

The SEC has established 17,337 polling stations across 941 gram panchayats, 3,240 wards in 87 municipalities, and 421 wards in six municipal corporations. Electoral registration officers hold the responsibility for the verification and approval of applications. Should there be any disputes regarding applications, voters can submit appeals within 15 days from the date of the order.

Additionally, voters who have registered since 2015 will see their details updated in the state electoral database. A unique electoral number will be allocated to each voter, thus ensuring streamlined identification in future electoral processes.

The SEC’s proactive approach aims to enhance electoral participation and accuracy in the voter registry, paving the way for a fair electoral process in the upcoming elections.