Schedule for bye-election to 26 Assemblies Constituencies of Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

The Commission has decided to hold bye-elections to fill vacancies in the following Assembly Constituencies along with General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024:

The Schedule for the bye elections is enclosed at Annexure-I.

1. ELECTORAL ROLLS

Commission firmly believes that pure and updated electoral rolls are the foundation of free, fair and credible elections. Hence, intensive and sustained focus is placed upon improving its quality, health and fidelity. After the amendment in Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act-1950 by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act-2021, there is a provision of four qualifying dates to enroll as a voter in a year. Accordingly, the Commission conducted the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Roll with reference to 1^st January, 2024, as the qualifying date, wherein applications were invited from eligible citizens seeking registration in electoral roll with respect to 1^st January, 2024 as the qualifying date. After time-bound completion of Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls with reference to 1^st January, 2024 as the qualifying date, the final publication of the electoral roll has been done on –

1. 5^th January, 2024 for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura;
2. 22^nd January, 2024 for Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu;
3. 23^rd January, 2024 for Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra; and
4. 8^th February, 2024 for Telangana and Rajasthan.

However, the process of continuous updation of electoral rolls will continue till the last date of filing nominations, with respect to proximate qualifying date.

2.  ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs) & VVPATs

The Commission has decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the bye-election in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the poll is conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.

3. IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS

Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) shall be the main document of identification of a voter. However, any of the below mentioned identification documents can also be shown at the polling station:

1. Aadhar Card,
2. MGNREGA Job Card,
3. Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office,
4. Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour,
5. Driving License,
6. PAN Card,
7. Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR,
8. Indian Passport,
9. Pension document with photograph,
10. Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies, and
11. Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs.
12. Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India

4. MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

          The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the Assembly constituency going for election is included, subject to provision of the instruction vide Commission’s letter No. 437/6/1NST/ECI/FUNCT/MCC/2024/(BYE ELECTIONS) dated 02^nd January, 2024 (available on the Commission’s website).

5. INFORMATION REGARDING CRIMINAL ANTECEDENTS

          Candidates with criminal antecedents are required to publish information in this regard in newspapers and through Television channels on three occasions during the campaign period. A political party that sets up candidates with criminal antecedents is also required to publish information about criminal background of its candidates, both on its website and also in newspapers and Television channels on three occasions.

 Commission vide its letter No. 3/4/2019/SDR/Vol. IV dated 16^th September, 2020 has directed that the period specified will be decided with three blocks in the following manner, so that electors have sufficient time to know about the background of such candidates:

1. Within first 4 days of withdrawal.
2.   Between next 5^th – 8^th days.
3.   From 9^th day till the last day of campaign (the second day prior to date of poll)

 (Illustration: If the last date for withdrawal is 10^th of the month and poll is on 24^th of the Month, the first block for publishing of declaration shall be done between 11^th and 14^th of the Month, second and third blocks shall be between 15^th and 18^th and 19^th and 22^nd of that Month, respectively.)

This requirement is in pursuance of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No. 784 of 2015 (Lok Prahari Vs. Union of India & Others) and Writ Petition (Civil) No. 536 of 2011 (Public Interest Foundation & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Anr.).

This information will also be available on an App titled, ‘know your candidates’.

6. COVID RELATED ARRANGEMENT DURING BYE-ELECTION

The Commission has issued COVID Guidelines to be followed during the conduct of the General Election and Bye Elections which are available at Commission’s website.

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DK/RP