Election Commission Mandates Paid Holiday for Voting Days Across States and By-Elections

According to the announcement, all employees working in any trade, business, or industrial establishment will be entitled to a paid holiday on the day of voting. The provision applies uniformly to government and private sector employees, as well as daily wage earners and temporary workers. The Commission emphasized that no deduction in wages will be permitted for availing this leave.

Citing Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission stated that any individual employed in an establishment and eligible to vote in Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly elections must be granted leave on the polling day. Employers failing to comply with this directive will face penalties, as the Commission has made it clear that violations of the rules will attract fines.

The order will be applicable to the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. It will also extend to by-elections being held on eight Assembly seats across six states—Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Polling is scheduled to take place on April 9 in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra will go to the polls on April 23, while West Bengal will conduct voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results for all these elections will be declared on May 4, 2026.

The Commission also clarified provisions for employees working outside their registered constituencies. Such individuals will still be eligible for a paid holiday to cast their vote, provided they are registered voters in their respective constituencies.

In its directive, the Election Commission has instructed all state governments and Union Territory administrations to ensure strict compliance. Necessary instructions have already been issued to concerned authorities to facilitate smooth voting, enabling all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise without inconvenience. The move reinforces the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding voter participation and strengthening the democratic process.