Election Commission Declares Paid Holiday on Polling Days for Upcoming Elections

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced that all employees, including daily wage and daily wage workers, will be entitled to paid holidays on polling days for the upcoming General Elections and bye-elections to be held this month. “Under Section 135B of the Representation of People Act, 1951, all persons employed in any commercial, commercial, industrial establishment or any other establishment and who are entitled to vote in elections to the People’s Assembly or Legislative Assembly of States/UTs or bye-election to PC/AC will be granted paid holiday on the election day,” the ECI said in a press note.

The announcement covers elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections to eight Assembly Constituencies in six states namely Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura.

Voting for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura will be held on April 9; April 23 for Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra; and April 23 (Phase I) and April 29 (Phase II) for West Bengal.

The commission also stated that there will be no deductions from wages on voting day and that violators will be fined. In the statement, “There will be no deductions from wages due to paid holidays. Employers who violate these provisions will be fined.”

The Commission further clarified: “Voters (including casual and daily wage workers) who work or are employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their constituency but are registered as voters in a poll-going constituency will also be entitled to a paid holiday on polling day to enable them to vote.” ECI has also directed all State and UT governments to ensure strict compliance. The statement said, “Necessary instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to ensure that all voters can exercise their voting rights freely and comfortably.” The statement was included.

Meanwhile, the results of the upcoming Assembly and bye elections are scheduled to be announced on May 4, 2026.