The State Election Commission of Kerala has announced an extension of the deadline for submitting applications related to the 2025 local body election voter list. Citizens now have until August 12 to file requests for name inclusion and raise objections regarding the draft rolls.
Originally, the cut-off date was set for Thursday, August 7. However, due to growing demand, the commission—headed by Chief Election Commissioner A. Shajahan—decided to allow an additional five days. The draft electoral rolls were first made public on July 23.
By 6 p.m. on Thursday, over 22 lakh applications for name enrolment had been received through Form 4. To accommodate the ongoing revision process, the Commission has instructed grama panchayat, municipal, and corporation offices to remain open on August 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday).
In the first three days alone, the commission had received more than 1 lakh fresh enrolment applications, highlighting significant public participation in the voter list revision.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), have voiced concerns about inaccuracies in the electoral rolls. They had appealed for the deadline to be pushed further by a full month, citing errors that could affect voter rights.
The Commission is responsible for both updating electoral rolls and conducting local elections across Kerala. This extension is seen as an effort to ensure a more accurate and inclusive electoral process.