New Delhi, March 10, 2019: Elections Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced that multi-phase Lok Sabha polls will be held in 7 phases beginning from April 11, 2019.
The counting of votes will be held on May 23, 2019. The polling for the last and seventh phase will be held on May 19, 2019.
Giving details at the press briefing here, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said that poll code has come into force in the entire country with effect from today.
The polling for 13 seats in Punjab along with Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh will be held in last phase 7 on May 19, 2019 whereas Haryana will go to polls on May 12, 2019.
Total 90 Crore voters will exercise their right to franchise this time as compared to 84.45 Crore voters in the LS polls held in 2014.
For the first time, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in the LS polls. Besides, photographs of all candidates will be displayed on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), he said.
The CEC emphasised that they were trying to conduct free, fair, ethical and participatory polls.
While finalising the poll dates, the ECI factored in festivals, examinations and weather and visited states to review preparedness, he added.
1st phase- 11th April
2nd Phase- 18th April
3rd Phase- 23rd April
4th Phase- 29th April
5th Phase- 6th May
6th Phase- 12th May
7th Phase- 19th May
Counting- 23rd May