In Punjab, a special holiday has been announced for voters from UT Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, who work in any industrial institution, business, trade, or other organization in the state. They will be granted a special casual leave to cast their votes.
The Odisha government has announced a public holiday in relevant election areas on Thursday for the four phases of polling to be held on 28 Lok Sabha and 147 Vidhan Sabha seats. Government employees involved in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections will receive a special one-day casual leave. Additionally, government employees traveling from their headquarters to cast votes will receive a special two-day casual leave.
According to the notification issued, the Odisha government has declared holidays on May 13 (Monday)
May 20 (Monday), May 25 (Saturday), and June 1 (Saturday) for government offices and executive magistrates’ courts working in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha election areas so that all employees can exercise their voting rights.
A special holiday has also been announced for residents of neighboring states working in Punjab. For voters in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, the holiday will be on April 19, while for voters in Himachal Pradesh and UT Chandigarh, it will be on June 1.
During this time, employees working in government offices, boards-corporations, and government educational institutions in Punjab will be able to take special leave by presenting their voter cards to the respective authorities on April 19. Salary will not be deducted during this period.
In Himachal Pradesh, a gazetted holiday has been announced for voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and by-elections to be held on June 1 in the border areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts. Voters from Uttarakhand in the border areas of Sirmaur and Solan districts in Himachal Pradesh will also receive the benefit of leave. Additionally, voters from Ladakh working in the border area of Himachal Pradesh will have a special leave on May 20.
Special holidays have been declared in Uttar Pradesh for voting in specific districts. In Saharanpur
A special casual leave will be granted to voters under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, on the day of voting. All employees engaged in any business, industrial enterprise, or other establishment will have a holiday, and there will be no deduction from their wages.
In Barabanki, voting will take place on May 7 in the third phase. The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh has declared a public holiday for voting. Therefore, all shops and commercial establishments in the region will remain closed. Employees will not be required to work, and if any worker’s salary is deducted due to leave, action will be taken against the factory manager as per the rules.
In Rajasthan, the District Election Officer and Collector Dr. Bharati Dikshit have issued an order announcing a two-day local holiday at schools where polling centers are being set up in Ajmer, Bhilwara, and Kekri districts.