With just one day left, Kottayam district is fully prepared for local body elections. The polls cover 89 local bodies including the District Panchayat, 11 block panchayats, 71 grama panchayats, and six municipalities. There are 1,611 electoral constituencies and 1,925 polling booths set up for 1,641,249 registered voters. These include 856,321 women, 784,842 men, 13 transgender voters, and 73 expatriate voters. A total of 5,281 candidates will contest: 83 for District Panchayat, 489 for block panchayats, 4,032 for grama panchayats, and 677 for municipalities. Ballot papers with candidates’ names and symbols are affixed in electronic voting machines (EVMs). These EVMs are securely stored in strong rooms at distribution-receipt centres. Polling materials will be dispatched from these centres starting 8 a.m. on December 8. To support the election officials, 724 vehicles have been arranged along with 134 vehicles for sectoral officers. Kottayam District Collector and Chief Election Officer, Chetan Kumar Meena, announced that December 8 will be a public holiday in the district. He said, "Institutions serving as distribution-receipt centres and polling stations will also remain closed on December 8 and 9." A total of 9,514 ballot units and 3,403 control units are ready. Around 9,272 officials will handle the polling duties. The Collector stressed strict compliance with environmental guidelines during the elections. A mock poll will be held at 6 a.m. on election day in the presence of political party representatives. Actual voting will begin after the machines are confirmed clear. After polling ends, EVMs will be stored securely again for counting. Vote counting will happen on December 13 at the same distribution-receipt centres. Postal ballots for District Panchayat divisions will be counted at the District Panchayat Hall.