A Panchayat/ Municipality is a body corporate comprised of members/ councillors chosen by direct election. For this purpose the Panchayat/ Municipal area is divided into territorial constituencies (to be known as wards for Municipalities and constituencies for Panchayats). Delimitation is the process of dividing Panchayats and Municipalities into as many constituencies or wards as there are seats (member/councillors) and fixing or refixing of the boundaries of the territorial constituencies for electing members.

As provided in the Constitution of India, Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and Kerala Municipality Act, reservation of seats of members/councilors, offices of President/Chairperson, Standing Committee Chairman and Standing Committee members are made

Once the draft electoral roll for a Local Self Government Institution is published, the claims and objections, if any, thereon have to be preferred before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

District Collectors have been designated as District Election Officers in all the 14 districts in the State. There is a Deputy Collector (Election) and an Assistant each in district to assist the District Election Officer.

The electoral rolls for all the constituencies comprised in a Village Panchayat shall be prepared and revised by an Electoral Registration Officer who shall be such officer of the Government or of a local authority as the State Election Commission may, in consultation with the Government, designate or nominate in this behalf.

District Collectors have been designated as District Election Officers in all the 14 districts in the State. There is a Deputy Collector (Election) and an Assistant each in district to assist the District Election Officer.

Articles 243F and 243V of Constitution, Section 29 of Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and Section 85 of Kerala Municipality Act

Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties, functionaries and candidates.