On Saturday, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, presented the entire schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The elections will be held in seven phases, beginning on April 19 and ending on June 1. The poll panel declared that the final tally of votes will take place on June 4.
Duration of the Lok Sabha Election 2024
The voting period for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will last 44 days, making it the second-longest electoral process in India’s history. Only the first legislative elections in 1951-52 lasted longer than four months. In comparison, the shortest voting period for a general election was in 1980, lasting just four days. This year, the electoral process will last 82 days, beginning with the Election Commission’s announcement of polls on March 16 and ending with vote counting on June 4.
Lok Sabha Election Phases
The 2024 Lok Sabha election will be conducted in seven phases. Let’s review each phase.
Phase 1
Voting in Phase 1 of the general election will occur across 102 constituencies spanning 21 states and union territories (UT). Polling is scheduled for April 19.
Phase 2
Phase 2 will entail voting in 89 constituencies across 13 states and union territories (UT). Polling is scheduled for April 26.
Phase 3
Phase 3 will oversee voting in 94 constituencies across 12 states and union territories (UT). Polling is scheduled for May 7.
Phase 4
Voting in Phase 4 will occur in 96 constituencies across 10 states and union territories (UT). Polling is scheduled for May 13.
Phase 5
Phase 5 will cover 49 constituencies across eight states and union territories. Polling is scheduled for May 20.
Phase 6
Voting for Phase 6 will encompass 57 constituencies across seven states and union territories. Polling is scheduled for May 25.
Phase 7
Phase 7 will include voting for 57 constituencies in eight states and union territories. Polling is scheduled for June 1.
Total Number of Voters
The Election Commissioner has stated that India has 968 million registered voters. There are 497 million male and 471 million female voters. Furthermore, 18 million first-time voters aged 18 to 19, 8.84 million with impairments, and 1.91 million service electors. Also, there are 8.2 million voters over 85, 197.4 million youthful voters aged 20 to 29, 48,000 transgender voters, and 218,000 centenarians.
Also Read:
Check Complete Schedule For Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Arunachal Assembly Elections 2024
Polling Booths and Security
To ensure the smooth conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 1.048 million polling booths and 5.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be installed. Furthermore, 15 million polling officials and security people would be deployed, with 400,000 cars to back them up. Voters are advised to report any instances of poll breaches through the cVigil app, which allows them to submit anonymous complaints directly to the Election Commission.
Misinformation
The Election Commission has launched a new section on its website titled “Myth vs Reality” to counteract misinformation. This section will address common disinformation or “myths” by presenting the equivalent facts or “reality”. Commissioner Kumar stressed the significance of public alertness and asked citizens to avoid spreading unsubstantiated information. He also advised the people to remain watchful against ads or false material masquerading as authentic content.
