Election Commission announces seven-phase Lok Sabha polls

The counting of votes will be on Jun. 4, a dozen days ahead of the expiry of the current House's term on Jun. 16

A first time voter being administered indelible ink, at a polling booth in 2014 / PIB

In what is anticipated to be the largest democratic exercise globally, approximately 970 million eligible voters out of which 18 million first time voters are gearing up to participate in the upcoming general elections, surpassing the combined populations of both the United States and the European Union.

The electoral battleground spans across 29 states and seven federally-administered territories, with voters set to elect 543 members to the lower house of parliament, known as the Lok Sabha.

The 18th Lok Sabha elections are set to occur in seven phases, spanning from Apr. 19 to Jun. 1. The counting of votes will be on Jun. 4, a dozen days ahead of the expiry of the current House's term on Jun. 16.

Election Commission: Seven-phase Lok Sabha polls announced / @ECISVEEP

Schedule :General Election to Lok Sabha 2024#ECI #GeneralElections2024 pic.twitter.com/2fjMIsxIw3
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 16, 2024

Assembly elections for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Jammu and Kashmir are also scheduled to take place simultaneously. The tenures of the Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim assemblies are scheduled to conclude on Jun. 11, Jun. 2, Jun. 24, and Jun. 2.

Addressing a press conference where the schedule was announced, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, “We will be ruthless if violence takes place anywhere during polls.”

"We are also very conscious about sustainable elections as a part of our responsibility towards the environment. That's why we have issued directions to our election machinery,” he added.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured a significant victory in the previous parliamentary polls, winning 303 seats, is facing stiff competition from opposition parties, notably the Congress, which secured 52 seats. With political parties across the spectrum actively announcing their candidates, the stage is set for a month-long electoral contest.

The BJP's main contender, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), comprising major opposition parties from various regions, is gearing up for what is perceived as a crucial battle. However, recent developments, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's departure from the alliance to join the BJP, have posed challenges to the opposition bloc's unity.

General Election to Lok Sabha 2024 - All Phase Map pic.twitter.com/ils9MiK5U3
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 16, 2024

In a notable development, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress party's decision to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, despite earlier discussions for a limited number of seats. Despite these internal tensions, both parties remain part of the larger opposition alliance.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been a cornerstone of India's electoral process since their inception in 1982. With a significant upgrade in numbers, over 5.5 million EVMs are slated for use in the upcoming elections, a notable increase from the 2.3 million deployed in 2019.

To ensure the integrity of the voting process and to thwart any potential malpractice, vehicles transporting the EVMs will be equipped with GPS devices, enabling real-time monitoring of their movements.
One of the most significant advantages of EVMs is their efficiency in counting votes, with the process often completed within three hours, a stark contrast to the manual counting method, which could stretch over 30 to 40 hours.

Moreover, to combat the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media platforms, tech giants such as Facebook and Google have pledged to monitor and report any malicious content to the election commission. Candidates are also mandated to declare their social media accounts to prevent misuse of online platforms during the electoral campaign.

Overseas Voters, citizens of India residing abroad due to employment, education, or other reasons, and who have not acquired citizenship of any other country, are eligible to register as voters using the address listed on their Indian passport.

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