The Election Commission of India has announced the poll dates for 2014 general election. The polls will be held between April 7 and May 12 in nine phases, and counting of the votes will be held on May 16.
The first phase of polling will take place on April 7, covering 6 constituencies of 2 states, second phase on April 9, covering 7 constituencies of 5 states, third phase on April 10, covering 92 constituencies of 14 states, fourth phase on April 12, covering 5 constituencies of 3 states, fifth on April 17, covering 122 constituencies of 13 states and UTs, sixth phase on April 24, covering 117 constituencies of 12 states, seventh phase on April 30, polling will be held on 89 constituencies of 9 states, eighth phase on May 7, covering 64 constituencies of 7 states and ninth phase of 2014 General Election will held on May 12, covering 41 constituencies of 3 states.
The polls in Himachal Pradesh will be held on eighth phase that is 7th May. For four parliamentary constituencies of Himachal Pradesh, issue of notification is 12th April and last date of filling nomination is 19th April. Scrutiny of nominations will be held on 21st April and last date of withdrawal of candidature is 23rd April.
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampat, while addressing press conference at New Delhi, stated that the long election schedule will ensure that security forces can be moved across the country for adequate deployment in sensitive areas. He said that Election Commission has taken series of measure for expenditure monitoring and giving special emphasis to check flow & use of money in election process.
9.71 Crore new voters have been added in the list, which make an estimated 81.4 crore voters for the parliamentary election. Election commission has set up 9,30,000 polling stations in the country, which is 12% more than the previous election.
With the announcement of poll dates, the model code of conduct has come into force immediately, which means the government cannot make any policy announcements.
This is the first Lok Sabha election in which voters will have the “None of The Above” option if they do not like any of the candidates in their constituency.
Election Commission has also decided to organise special camps in all polling stations for voters to verify, add or modify their details. 9th March on Sunday for all polling stations booth level officers will take forms for enrollment.
The term of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 1 and a new house has to be constituted by 31 May.
Statewise voting dates
Andhra Pradesh – April 30, May 7
Arunachal Pradesh – April 9
Assam – April 7, 12, 24
Bihar – April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Chhattisgarh – April 10, 17, 24
Goa – April 17
Gujarat – April 30
Haryana – April 10
Himachal Pradesh – May 7
Jammu and Kashmir – April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7
Jharkhand – April 10, 17, 24
Karnataka – April 17
Kerala – April 10
Madhya Pradesh- April 10, 17, 24
Maharashtra – April 10, 17, 24
Manipur – April 9, 17
Meghalaya – April 9
Mizoram – April 9
Nagaland – April 9
Odisha – April 10, 17
Punjab – April 30
Rajasthan – April 17, 24
Sikkim – April 12
Tamil Nadu – April 24
Tripura – April 7, 12
Uttar Pradesh – April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Uttarakhand – May 7
West Bengal – April 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Union Territories
Andaman – April 10
Chandigarh – April 10
Dadra Nagar Haveli – April 30
Daman and Diu – April 30
Lakshadweep – April 10
NCT OF Delhi – April 10
Puducherry – April 24
