Kerala civic polls: Covid fails to deter voters with 74% turnout in Phase-1

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 8 : Contrary to fears that the Covid pandemic would keep away the voters from the polling booths, at the end of the Phase-1 local body polls held on Tuesday in five southern districts, the turnout surprised everybody. According to the preliminary figures released by the State Election Commission, there was a 74 per cent turnout.
The polling percentage in Thiruvananthapuram was 69 per cent, Kollam (73), Pathanamthitta (69), Alappuzha (76), and Idukki (74).
Polling began at 7 a.m. to decide the fate of 24,584 candidates. It ended at 6 p.m. except for a few places.
Another highlight of the day was Covid positive patients and those in isolation coming to vote after 5 p.m., wearing PPE kits. At that time, the polling officials inside the booth also had to wear PPE kits.
Five central districts will go to the polls on December 10 and four northern districts on December 14. Counting of votes will take place on December 16.
Across the five districts, polling for panchayats, municipalities and corporations was brisk though no big queues were seen. In the hilly district of Idukki, the turnout came as a surprise to many.