**Executive Summary**
This Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, published on April 3, 2024, includes notifications and orders regarding first appointments and investiture of magisterial powers issued by Secretariat Departments. It also contains a notice listing extraordinary issues published during the week ending March 23, 2024, covering topics such as candidate disqualifications, election-related directives, and market borrowing programs. The gazette also states which parts and sections were not published.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Notifications by Government:**
* The content section is listed as Nil.
* **Extraordinary Issues Published During the Week Ending March 23, 2024:**
* **Disqualification of Candidate:** Notification regarding the disqualification of a candidate from the 160 Sirkazhi (SC) Assembly Constituency in the 2021 General Election for failure to lodge accounts of election expenses.
* **Postal Ballots:** Issuance of postal ballots to COVID-19 suspects or affected persons.
* **Parliamentary Elections:** Notification calling for the election of members in all Parliamentary Constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
* **Election Dates & Times:** Appointment of dates and fixation of polling hours for Parliamentary Constituencies elections.
* **Bye-Election Dates & Times:** Appointment of dates and fixation of polling hours for the Vilavancode Assembly Constituency by-election.
* **Election Security:** General elections to Lok Sabha 2024 and Vilavancode Assembly Constituency Bye-Election for exercise of Supervisory / Disciplinary Control.
* **Market Borrowing:** Market Borrowing Programme of the State Government by Auction.
* **Postal Ballots for Essential Services:** Issuance of postal ballots for absentee voters employed in essential services.
* **Electronic Voting Machines:** Direction specifying that votes for Lok Sabha 2024 and the Vilavancode Assembly Constituency Bye-Election be given and recorded by Electronic Voting Machines and VVPAT.
* **Voter Identification:** Order for the identification of electors during the Lok Sabha 2024 and Vilavancode Assembly Constituency Bye-Election, scheduled for April 19th, 2024.
* **Gazette Sections Not Published:**
* Part II-Section 1
* Part III-Sections 1(a), 1(b) and 2
* Part IV-Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4
* Part V-Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Candidates Contesting Elections**
* **Impact:** Must adhere to regulations regarding election expenses and avoid disqualification.
* **Action Required:** Comply with all election-related regulations, particularly those concerning financial reporting, to avoid disqualification.
**Stakeholder: Voters**
* **Impact:** Informed about election dates, procedures for postal ballots, and the use of electronic voting machines.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about election dates, procedures, and identification requirements to participate in the electoral process.
**Stakeholder: Election Commission of India and Election-Related Staff**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring fair and transparent elections following the guidelines and directives.
* **Action Required:** Implement the directives regarding voter identification, use of electronic voting machines, and postal ballot issuance.
**Stakeholder: Police Personnel**
* **Impact:** Required to conduct election-related duties under the supervision of the Election Commission of India.
* **Action Required:** Exercise supervisory and disciplinary control over police officers / personnel under the Election Commission of India.
**Stakeholder: Tamil Nadu State Government**
* **Impact:** Affected by regulations related to market borrowing programs and overall election administration.
* **Action Required:** Execute the Market Borrowing Programme and ensure that the General Elections and Bye Elections are conducted appropriately.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu Government Gazette: Official publication used to disseminate notifications and orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Government.
Election Commission of India: Constitutional authority responsible for conducting elections in India, and issuing related notifications.
Chennai: Location of publication for the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
Vilavancode Assembly Constituency: Specific Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly constituency mentioned in notifications regarding bye-elections.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Indian parliamentary act concerning elections, cited as the basis for disqualifying a candidate.