2019 Lok Sabha: Polling Begins on 11 April, Counting on 23 May
The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on 3 June.
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Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases beginning 11 April, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced on Sunday, 10 March. The results will be announced on 23 May.
Soon after the announcement of the dates, PM Modi took to Twitter, saying, "The Festival of democracy, Elections are here."
Here is the full election schedule:
- Phase 1: 11 April 2019
- Phase 2: 18 April 2019
- Phase 3: 23 April 2019
- Phase 4: 29 April 2019
- Phase 5: 6 May 2019
- Phase 6: 12 May 2019
- Phase 7: 19 May 2019
- Date of Counting: 23 May 2019
Elections in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha – will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
Voting in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will take place in one phase on 11 April and in four phases in Odisha on 11, 18, 23 and 29 April.
The states of Bihar, UP and West Bengal will go to polls in seven phases. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir will vote in five phases.
With the election dates being announced, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force.
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Election Commission to Announce Poll Dates Soon
The Election Commission will soon announce its schedule for the Lok Sabha elections, which is likely to be spread over seven to eight phases in April-May, sources said.
Sources said the poll panel is in its final stages of completing its logistical preparations to conduct elections for the 17th Lok Sabha, and a detailed polling schedule could be announced this weekend or by early next week.
The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on 3 June.
The announcement of dates for the elections, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his bid to return to power amid hectic parleys by several political parties to put a united fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, will be followed by a meeting of election observers next week for the first and second phase of polling.
Election Dates in 2014
In 2014, the Election Commission had announced the election schedule on 5 March and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May.
While the first phase of polling was on 7 April, the last phase was on 12 May.
EC to Hold Press Conference at 5 pm, Likely to Announce Election Dates
The Election Commission will hold a press conference at 5 pm Sunday, 10 March, at the Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi, PIB India confirmed. The EC is expected to declare the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Notification for the first phase of polling could be issued by the end of March for voting some time in early April, sources told PTI.
Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has been dissolved, the EC is bound to hold fresh polls there as well within a six-month period, which will end in May. While there is a view that the J&K Assembly elections can be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, a lot depends on the complex security situation in the state.
As soon as the elections are announced, the model code of conduct will come into force.
Cong Calls EC's Scheduled Announcement of Poll Dates "Modi's Vidai Parv"
The Congress on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hours before the EC's scheduled announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha polls, saying it was the first day of his "vidai parv" (farewell festival).
"It's first day of vidai parv of Modi ji. Voters are ready," said AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera.
Examination Dates Factored in While Finalising Poll Schedule: CEC
Addressing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said that examination dates, including those of CBSE exams, dates of religious festivals, and harvest schedules have been factored in while finalising poll dates.
Number of Voters Has Increased by 84.3 Million: CEC
CEC Sunil Arora said that the number of voters has increased by 84.3 million for these elections compared to the last one.
Ninety crore people will be eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha elections, of which 15 million are in the 18-19 age group, he said.
He added that the number of polling stations has increased from 9 lakh to 10 lakh.
Transportation of EVM Machines to Be Tracked Through GPS: CEC
CEC Sunil Arora said that due to complaints about the security of EVMs, last-mile transportation of these machines will be tracked through GPS in the upcoming polls.
Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Effect Immediately: CEC
CEC Sunil Arora said the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect immediately with the announcement of the poll dates, and that strict action will be taken against those violating the code.
All Content Posted on Social Media Will Come Under Purview of Model Code of Conduct: CEC
CEC Sunil Arora said that all content posted on social media by political parties and their candidates will come under the purview of the Model Code of Conduct.
Lok Sabha Election Results on 23 May, Polling to be Held in 7 Phases
The Lok Sabha election results will be announced on 23 May, with the polling happening in seven phases, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced on Sunday, 10 March.
Here is the full election schedule:
- Phase 1: 11 April 2019
- Phase 2: 18 April 2019
- Phase 3: 23 April 2019
- Phase 4: 29 April 2019
- Phase 5: 6 May 2019
- Phase 6: 12 May 2019
- Phase 7: 19 May 2019
- Date of Counting: 23 May 2019
Bihar, UP and West Bengal to Go to Polls in Seven Phases
The states of Bihar, UP and West Bengal will go to polls in seven phases. Jammu and Kashmir will have five phases of polling.
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra will have voting in four phases, while Assam and Chhattisgarh will have three phases.
Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan and Tripura will have two phases of voting. All the remaining states will vote in a single phase.
4 States to Have Simultaneous Polls; No Announcement for J&K Assembly Elections
The states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will have simultaneous Assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls.
However, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will not be held alongside the Lok Sabha polls, with the Election Commission citing security reasons for the decision.
Delhi to Vote on 12 May for Lok Sabha Elections
The national capital will be voting on 12 May in phase six of the Lok Sabha elections.
'Festival of Democracy, Elections Are Here': PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter soon after the Election Commission's announcement, saying, "The Festival of democracy, Elections are here."
Calling upon people to cast their vote, Modi also listed the achievements of his government in a series of tweets. He also took a dig at the previous UPA government saying there was "unprecedented anger over the UPA's corruption, nepotism and policy paralysis".
Lok Sabha Polls 2019: Analysing the Poll Date Announcement
Lok Sabha Polling Schedule for Karnataka, Manipur and Rajasthan
Lok Sabha Polling Schedule for Assam and Chattisgarh
Lok Sabha Polling Schedule for Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha
Lok Sabha Polling Schedule for Jammu and Kashmir
Lok Sabha Polling Schedule for UP, Bihar and West Bengal
List of States and Union Territories to Vote in Single Phase in 2019 Lok Sabha Polls
EC Appoints 3 Former Civil Servants as Special Observer For J&K LS Polls
Election Commission has appointed three former civil servants – Amarjit Singh Gill (IPS 1972 Batch, Former DG, CRPF), Noor Mohammad (IAS 1977), and Vinod Zutshi (IAS 1982) – as special observers for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by ANI.