Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Voter Turnout Increases to 79.63% Following Postal Ballot Counting

The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, Rathan U. Kelkar, has clarified that the current figures released regarding the recent elections are provisional and do not include service votes. He addressed concerns over the alleged delay in the publication of complete electoral data, stating that the process is in accordance with established protocols. Service votes, which are cast by members of the armed forces and certain government officials stationed away from their registered voting locations, are typically counted after the general votes. The inclusion of these votes is expected to provide a more accurate representation of the election outcome. Kelkar emphasized the commitment of the electoral office to transparency and efficiency in the election process, assuring the public that finalized results will be released promptly. Further updates will be provided as the counting progresses and final tallies are compiled.