THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All arrangements for the local body poll in the state on November 2 and 5 are in the final stage.
State Election Commissioner K. Sasidharan Nair told DC that all details of poll officials have been uploaded in the SEC's official software solution E Drop.
Posting orders have been issued in all districts, the classes for presiding officers and first polling officers have been completed.
Mr Nair said though there was a shortage of polling officials in some districts, especially Ernakulam and Alappuzha, the matter was being sorted out.
"We expect to complete the training of poll personnel in all respects within two to three days," he said.
The first level of checking of electronic voting machines (EVMs) has already been completed and ready for despatch.
The EVMs will have to be transported to the block-level reception and counting centres. The single post machines for municipalities and corporations will also be forwarded to reception and counting centres.
The EVMs are expected to be despatched by October 28. Ballot labels have already been printed and these would be kept in the treasury till Sunday.
The poll officials have to reach a day before the poll date on November 2 and 5. Earlier, the poll officials were asked to report at 8 am to receive poll material on the previous day, now they can reach by 10 am.
Around 32,000 EVMs are being used for the poll. In remote polling stations which are considered to be inaccessible, a reserve EVM each will be provided. Postal ballots have been printed and these would be sent through registered post and directly.
The SEC held discussions with the DGP T. P. Senkumar on Saturday to review security arrangements. While Karnataka has agreed to give six companies of police, Tamil Nadu has expressed inability to provide security personnel. There are 1,315 sensitive booths in the state and each booth will have webcasting facility.
