**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India has mandated a paid holiday for employees on polling days during the 2026 General and Bye-elections to ensure maximum voter participation. This directive applies to specific states and Union Territories with polling dates scheduled for April 9, April 23, and April 29, 2026. Under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, employers must provide this leave without wage deductions, or face legal penalties.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Election Schedule**
* **April 9, 2026:** General elections and bye-elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura.
* **April 23, 2026:** General elections and bye-elections in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal (Phase I).
* **April 29, 2026:** General elections in West Bengal (Phase II).
**Mandatory Leave Provisions (Section 135B)**
* Every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment who is entitled to vote must be granted a paid holiday on the day of the poll.
* Employers are strictly prohibited from making any deduction of wages on account of this holiday.
* Provisions apply equally to daily wage and casual workers.
* The benefit extends to electors working in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their home constituency, provided they are registered voters in a constituency going to the polls.
**Compliance and Enforcement**
* Any employer who contravenes the provision for a paid holiday shall be liable to a fine.
* State and Union Territory Governments are directed to issue instructions to ensure strict compliance and a convenient voting process for all electors.
**Impact Analysis**
**Employees (including daily wage and casual workers)**
**Impact**
They are legally entitled to a paid holiday on their respective polling day to exercise their franchise. This ensures no loss of income for participating in the electoral process, even if they work outside their registered constituency.
**Action Required**
Identify the relevant polling date based on their registered constituency and utilize the paid holiday to cast their vote.
**Employers (Business, Trade, and Industrial Undertakings)**
**Impact**
Must provide a holiday to all eligible voting staff and are legally barred from deducting wages for that day. Non-compliance subjects the employer to financial penalties.
**Action Required**
Grant paid leave to all eligible employees on the specified dates and ensure payroll systems do not deduct wages for these holidays.
**State/UT Governments**
**Impact**
Responsible for the local enforcement of the Election Commission's directives.
**Action Required**
Issue official instructions to all establishments within their jurisdiction to ensure strict adherence to the paid holiday requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951: The statutory provision that mandates a paid holiday for all employees, including daily wage and casual workers, on the day of polling.
Election Commission of India (ECI): The constitutional body that announced the election schedule and issued directives for the mandatory granting of paid holidays to voters.
General Elections and bye-elections 2026: The specific electoral events scheduled for Legislative Assemblies and constituencies across multiple states that trigger these labor provisions.
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura: The collective states and union territories where the elections are being held and where the paid holiday mandate is applicable.
Election Commission
General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Paid
Holiday on Polling Day
Posted On: 03 APR 2026 11:39AM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative
Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and Bye-election to 8
(Eight) Assembly Constituencies of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura on
March 15, 2026.
2. Polls in the states are to be held as per the schedule given below:
Name of State/UT going for general Poll Date
elections/ bye-elections
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and 09.04.2026
Tripura
Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra 23.04.2026
West Bengal 23.04.2026 (Phase I)
29.04.2026 (Phase II)
3. As per Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 every person employed in any
business, trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment, and entitled to vote at an election
to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assembly of a States/UTs or Bye-election to a
PC/AC shall be granted a paid holiday on the day of poll.
4. No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday. Any employer who
contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine. All daily wage and casual workers are also
entitled to a paid holiday on the day of poll.
5. The Commission has further clarified that electors (including casual and daily wage workers)
who are working or employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their
constituency but are registered as voters in a constituency going to polls shall also be entitled to
the benefit of a paid holiday on the day of poll to enable them to cast their vote.
6. The Commission has directed all State/UT Governments to issue necessary instructions to all
concerned for strict compliance with these provisions and to ensure that all electors are able to
exercise their franchise freely and conveniently.
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