The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that all employees, including daily wage and casual workers, will receive a paid holiday on polling days for the upcoming General Elections and bye-elections. This decision is in accordance with Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates that every person entitled to vote must be granted a paid day off to participate in the elections. The elections will cover the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. Polling will occur on April 9 and April 23, 2026, with results to be announced on May 4, 2026. The ECI emphasized that no deductions will be made from wages for this holiday, and employers who violate this rule will be fined. Furthermore, the ECI clarified that workers registered as voters in their constituencies will also be entitled to this benefit, regardless of where they are employed. All State and Union Territory governments have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with these provisions.