The Election Commission has directed all States and UT to grant a paid holiday to voters on the day of polling for the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The commission said that every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment and entitled to vote shall be granted a paid holiday on the day of poll. It said, no deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday and any employer who contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine.

The commission said all daily wage and casual workers are also entitled to a paid holiday on the day of poll. It has directed all State and UT Governments to issue necessary instructions to all concerned for strict compliance with these provisions and to ensure that all electors are able to exercise their franchise freely and conveniently. The poll body further informed that electors who are working or employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their constituency but are registered as voters in a constituency going to polls shall also be entitled to the benefit of a paid holiday.a