Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 In a significant moment underscoring India’s electoral credibility, the Election Commission of India has rolled out the red carpet for a high-powered international delegation to witness the Kerala Assembly elections under its International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.
Kerala goes to the polls on Thursday to elect 140 new legislators.
A 43-member delegation representing 23 countries arrived in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the first phase of the IEVP that spans Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. Their visit is aimed at providing a firsthand understanding of India’s robust, technology-driven electoral process.
In Kerala, the delegation’s polling-day itinerary on April 9 is tightly packed, reflecting the state’s diverse election management model.
The observers will begin early at 6 a.m. with a mock poll at Booth No. 104 at Cotton Hill LPS, Vazhuthacaud, as an exercise designed to demonstrate transparency and system integrity before voting begins.
Subsequently, the team will visit a women-friendly polling station at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, followed by a model polling booth at Government Model GHSS, Pattom, showcasing enhanced voter facilities.
A youth-managed booth at Government Girls HSS, Peroorkada, is also on the schedule, highlighting efforts to engage younger citizens in the democratic process.
Beyond booth visits, the delegation will also tour a polling material dispatch centre and the district collectorate control room to gain insights into backend coordination and real-time monitoring.
Officials said the initiative is intended not just to demonstrate India’s electoral scale and efficiency, but also to facilitate the exchange of global best practices in election management, reinforcing the country’s standing as a benchmark in democratic governance.
Voting will commence at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. across more than 30,000 polling stations where the fate of 883 candidates will be sealed.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4, the day that will decide who will rule the state for the next five years.
--IANS
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