Voting for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry began on April 9, 2026, at 7 am under tight security. In Kerala, 883 candidates are contesting for 140 seats, with approximately 2.71 crore voters and 30,495 polling stations, of which 2,040 are sensitive. Assam has 722 candidates for 126 seats, with over 2.5 crore voters, including 6.4 lakh first-time voters. The state set up 31,490 polling stations, including 4,021 managed entirely by women. In Puducherry, 294 candidates are in the race for 30 seats, with 1,099 polling stations, where 209 are marked as vulnerable. Special polling stations, including all-women and youth-managed booths, have been established. The counting of votes for these elections will take place on May 4, 2026.