This is the highest turnout in the assembly elections since 1987 when it went above 80 percent. In the civic polls that was swept by the opposition Congress party-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in October, the turnout was little over 76 percent.    

According to the initial estimates, Kannur district registered the highest polling percent of 80.4 percent folioed by Kozhikode (80.2 percent), Alappuzha (77.7%),  Ernakulam (77.4%), Kasargod (76.6%), Palakkad (75.3%), Thrissur (74.6%), Malappuram (73.6%), Wayanad (73.5%), Kottayam (73.4%), Kollam (72.6%), Idukki (71.2%), Thiruvananthapuram (68.5%) and Pathanamthitta (68.2%).

These estimates were made at 5 pm when the deadline for voting ended. However, voters still remained on the queue were allowed to vote and officials at the Election Commission said the final figure could go up to 80 percent. The increased turnout could favor the opposition. 

Reports said the turnout defied usual trends and a large number of youngsters cast their maiden vote. Youngsters between 18 and 25 years of age constitute 20 percent of the voters.

Both the UDF and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) expressed confidence that they would gain absolute majority while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said voters wanted an end to the bipolar politics in Kerala and would return a handful of its members to the state Assembly.

In a statement issued after the polling here, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala claimed that there was a strong wave in favor of UDF and it would return to power winning more than 100 seats in the 140-member house.

CPI-M politburo member and home minister in the outgoing government Kodiyeri Balakarishnan claimed that the Left would get a comfortable majority. BJP leader and former union minister O Rajagopal, who is its candidate Nemom hoping to open electoral account for the party, also exuded confidence that the people would vote for change.

AK Antony, India's defense minister and three-time chief minister if the state who camped in the state for two weeks leading the UDF campaign from the front, said the Congress would win with a thumping majority. He held a meeting of the top leaders at the Congress headquarters here after the polling assessing the front's chances.

The highest polling was recorded in Kuttiadi constituency (87.4 percent) and the lowest was in Thiruvananthapuram (59.5 percent). The results would be out only on May after completing elections in all the four states that went to the polls along with Kerala in this phase. 

Except for isloated incidents, the polling remained by and large peaceful. In Guruvayoor, a Congress activist was arrested for trying to impersonate while in Paravoor in Ernakulam district, the Election Commission ordered arrest of the polling officer who failed to turn up for duty. In Thrissur and Kannur, minor skirmishes were reported between workers of the both fronts some constituencies.

In Idukki, which borders Tamil Nadu, police foiled an attempt to bring in voters from across the border leading to a tense situation.

A police constable who was on duty in Kottukal in Kollam district, died on the spot after complaining of sudden chest pain. While in Kayamkulam, a 92-year-old woman voter breathed her last while waiting to cast her vote at the Government L.P.School booth.

The state had recorded 72.27 percent voter turnout in the 2006 Assembly polls when the LDF rode to power winning 98 of the 140 seats.