The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday, October 18, 2025, that all voters in Bihar, where elections are scheduled over two phases next month, are legally entitled to a paid holiday on the days they go to the polls. This crucial directive comes with a stern warning: any employer found violating this provision will face penalties.
Furthermore, the ECI extended this entitlement to voters in eight Assembly constituencies across different states where by-elections are slated for November 11, 2025, ensuring that their right to vote is similarly protected with a paid day off.
Citing Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the ECI emphasized that every individual working in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or other establishment, who is eligible to vote in an election for the Lok Sabha or a State/Union Territory Legislative Assembly, must receive a paid holiday on election day. This means no deductions from wages are permitted for this mandated time off.
The Commission explicitly warned that employers failing to comply with these rules will face fines. It also clarified that this paid holiday benefit extends to all daily wage and casual workers.
Importantly, the ECI highlighted that voters, including casual and daily wage laborers, who work in industrial or commercial setups outside their home constituency but are registered to vote in an area holding elections, are still eligible for this paid holiday. This measure ensures that no voter is disenfranchised due to their work location.
In light of these directives, the ECI has urged all relevant state authorities to issue stringent instructions to ensure these provisions are strictly followed.