Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Dates Announced

Lok Sabha Elections to be held in 7 phases between April 19 and June 1, 2024

ECI also announces schedule for elections to the legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha elections for the 543 seats will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1, 2024. The counting of votes will take place on June 4, 2024.

The Election Commission of India also announced the election schedule to the legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. While the election will be held in a single phase for the 175 Assembly seats in Andhra (May 13, 2024), 60 Assembly seats in Arunachal (April 19, 2024), and 32 Assembly seats in Sikkim (April 19, 2024), it will be held in four phases for the 147 Assembly seats in Odisha (May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, 2024). The counting of votes in all these four States will be on June 4, 2024.

Global Bihari — A special provision for Bihar because of the local festival in the state during Phase 1 of polling.

With the declaration of the election dates, the model code of conduct comes into effect with immediate effect. All the provisions of the Model Code will apply to all States/UTs concerning all candidates, political parties and the government of the said States. The Model Code of Conduct provisions shall also apply to the Union Government.

“On the occasion of the 18th Lok Sabha Election and simultaneous Assembly election in 4 States, the Commission reassures the nation of its solemn resolve and deep commitment to fulfilling its constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair, credible, inclusive, participative and transparent elections,” the ECI stated.

The voting percentage in the General Election to Lok Sabha – 2019 was 67.4%, which the Commission said it has taken as a challenge to improve upon, just like its mission of “No Voter to be Left Behind”. The Election Commission has captured election festivities under its umbrella theme “Chunav ka Parv, Desh ka Garv” (Elections: The Biggest Festival and Pride of the Nation). The overarching theme of this campaign depicts elections as the biggest festival of democracy, the pride of an individual and the country. Targeted campaigns such as #MeraPhelaVoteDeshkeLiye have also been launched to encourage first-time voters to participate in the electoral process.

To bridge the gap between citizens, especially youth and the urban population, ECI appointed Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar and actor Rajkumar Rao as ‘National Icons’. This collaboration marks a significant step towards leveraging their impact and popularity to increase voters’ participation in the forthcoming General Elections in 2024.

The General Election to the House of People-2024 to constitute the 18th Lok Sabha shall be held based on the extent of Parliamentary Constituencies as contained in the “Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order-2008” except the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Assam. In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, the General Election to the House of People-2024 shall be held on the basis of the extent of Parliamentary Constituencies as contained in “Delimitation Commission’s Order No. 2 vide Notification dated May 5, 2022. In the State of Assam, the Lok Sabha election shall be held on the basis of the extent of Parliamentary Constituencies as contained in “Election Commission’s Order No. 2 vide Notification dated August 11, 2023, and Corrigendum dated November 1, 2023”.

Therefore, there is no change in the extent and the status of any Parliamentary Constituency after the General Election to Lok Sabha-2009 in the States/Union Territories except the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Assam.

Besides, the total number of Parliamentary Constituencies allotted to various States/UTs including SC/ST seats except the UT of Jammu & Kashmir also continued to be the same. As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the UT of Jammu & Kashmir was allotted a total of five Parliamentary Seats and the UT of Ladakh was allotted one Parliamentary seat.

Section 6 of the “The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act-2019 dated December 9, 2019” provides that “On and from the appointed day, there shall be allocated two seats to the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the House of People and the First Schedule to the Representation of People Act, 1950 shall be deemed to be amended accordingly”. Therefore, the General Election to the House of People-2024 for Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu shall also be held on the basis of the extent of Parliamentary Constituencies as contained in the “Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order-2008”.

The total electorate in the country as per finally published Electoral rolls with reference to January 1, 2024, as the qualifying date is 968.8 million compared to 896 million in 2019. This marks an increase of more than 72.8 million electors. Over 18.4 million electors are in the 18-19 years age group.

Electors in the age group of 18-19 years constitute 1.89% of total electors. The number of electors enrolled as “Third Gender” (written as TG) is 48,044. Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allowing the enrollment of Indian citizens living overseas as electors. 1,18,439 overseas electors have been enrolled in the current electoral rolls. There are 19,08,194 service electors in the electoral rolls. There is a total of 88,35,449 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) all over the country in which there exist 52,65,076 male PwD electors, 35,69,933 female PwD electors and 440 Third Gender PwD electors. As of March 10, 2024, there is a total of 81,87,999 Senior Citizen electors above 85 years and 2,18,442 electors above 100 years.

As on date India has 6 (six) Recognized National Parties and 58 Recognized State Political Parties which already have earmarked symbols. As of March 5, 2024, common symbols have been allotted to 58 registered but unrecognized Political Parties for the General election to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim- 2024.

Meanwhile, the Commission today also announced the dates of bye-elections to fill vacancies in 26 Assemblies Constituencies of Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal (See the table below).