Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19, with results set to be announced on June 4, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday.
In the first phase on April 19, voting will take place in 102 constituencies spread over 21 states/UTs, with 10 states/UTs completing the poll process in this phase.
Voting will take place in 89 constituencies across 13 states/UTs in the second phase on April 26, Kumar said, adding that the poll process would be completed in four more states/UTs.
In the third phase on May 7, voting will take place in 94 constituencies spread across 12 states/UTs. With this, polling will be completed in six more states/UTs.
In the fourth phase on May 13, 96 constituencies spread across 10 states UTs would vote. With this, three more states/UTs would have completed voting.
As many as 49 constituencies spread across eight states/UTs will vote in phase five on May 20. This phase will see voting completed in three more states/UTs.
In the sixth phase on May 25, voting will take place in 57 constituencies spread across seven states/UTs. Polling in two more states/UTs would be completed with this phase.
The seventh and final phase will take place on June 1 in 57 constituencies spread across eight states/UTs. The polling process in eight states/UTs would be completed.
Around 97 crore people are eligible to vote in the upcoming polls. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that voters older than 85 years of age will be allowed to vote from home.
He also said that minimum basic facilities like drinking water and toilets will be made available at all polling booths. The tenure of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that.
The tenure of the four state assemblies will also end in June.
Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will take place on April 19, while Andhra Pradesh will go to polls on May 13.
Odisha assembly elections will be conducted in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.
Bypolls for 26 assembly constituencies will also be conducted, Kumar added during a press conference, alongside newly appointed Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The vote counting process will occur on June 4. (With inputs from PTI)
