ECI mandates paid leave for voters to boost turnout in 2026 assembly polls

The Election Commission of India on Friday directed that all eligible voters be granted a paid holiday on polling days during the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections and by-elections, in a bid to enhance voter turnout and make participation more accessible.

The directive comes via a poll panel press note issued after the Commission announced the election schedule on March 15, 2026, for Assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with by-elections in eight constituencies across Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura.

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Voting will be conducted in multiple phases across states. Polling in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura is set for April 9, 2026, while Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra will vote on April 23. West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

Referring to Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission underscored that all employees working in businesses, industries, or any other establishments and eligible to vote must be given a paid day off on polling day.

“No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a holiday,” it said, cautioning that employers failing to comply could face penalties.

The Commission made it clear that the provision applies equally to daily wage earners and casual workers, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent them from exercising their franchise.

“All daily wage and casual workers are also entitled to a paid holiday on the day of the poll,” it noted.

Additionally, the Commission extended the benefit to voters employed outside their registered constituencies, allowing them time to travel and vote. “Electors working in establishments located outside their constituency but registered as voters in a polling area shall also be entitled to the benefit,” the statement said.

To ensure effective implementation, the Commission has instructed all State and Union Territory governments to issue necessary directions and enforce compliance. Authorities have been urged to take all required steps so that “electors are able to exercise their franchise freely and conveniently.”

The measure is part of a broader push to remove logistical and economic barriers to voting, particularly for working individuals, and to strengthen participation in the democratic process.