The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will start today, April 19, and end with results on June 4, 2024. In total, 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories will go to the polls in the first phase of voting on April 19. Polling will be conducted in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttrakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).
In addition, there will be voting in 12 seats of Rajasthan, 8 of Uttar Pradesh, 6 of Madhya Pradesh, 5 of Assam, 5 of Maharashtra, 4 of Bihar, 3 of West Bengal, 2 of Manipur, and one seat each of Tripura, J&K, and Chhattisgarh.
Many banks in respective cities will remain closed on the first day of elections. Some states have also declared a public holiday for residents on voting day.
Tamil Nadu has announced a public holiday on April 19, 2024. Uttarakhand Government’s General Administration Department has issued a directive regarding public holiday today.
Under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Home Department of Nagaland has announced a paid holiday for all employees on April 19.
According to a report by the Economic Times, banks in the cities of Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Aizwal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Kohima, Nagpur, and Shillong will remain closed on April 19.
Schools and colleges will also be shut during the polling day. Liquor shops will also remain closed and a dry day has been declared in the polling constituencies 48 hours before the voting itself.
