Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will take place on September 18 and 25 (both Wednesdays). The third phase of polling in J&K and the single phase in Haryana will be held on October 1 (Tuesday). Representative image: ANI
The April-June Lok Sabha polls are divided into several phases – six out of seven – with voting taking place on Friday, Monday or Saturday. This allows some urban voters to use weekends and polling day holidays to skip voting.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the schedule for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Pollsters have retained weekdays rather than weekends because polling dates do not allow voters to schedule short breaks and outings as they battle urban apathy.
The April-June Lok Sabha polls are divided into several phases – six out of seven – with voting taking place on Friday, Monday or Saturday. This has led some urban voters to use weekends and polling day holidays to skip voting. Voter turnout in this Lok Sabha election was lower compared to 2019.
Lessons learned
Announcing the poll schedule on Friday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll body had taken this into account while finalizing the polling dates this time. J&K will go to polls in three phases, while Haryana will go to polls in a single phase.
Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will take place on September 18 and 25 (both Wednesdays). The third phase of polling in J&K and the single phase in Haryana will be held on October 1 (Tuesday).
“The polling date is Wednesday, September 18. We also keep in mind that the election will not be held on Friday or Monday to give long leave,” Kumar said.
The CEC also said that the electoral rolls for Haryana and J&K will be released in August, but if voters are unable to register, they can register before the nomination process begins.
News18 reported on the link between weekend polling dates and urban apathy after lower voter turnout was reported in urban areas during various phases of the Lok Sabha elections in April and May.
In March 2023, while announcing the dates for the Karnataka Assembly polls, the committee said mid-week polls barred the urban working class from enjoying regular leave during the polling holiday and took away the option of long weekends. Voting in the state concluded on Wednesday.
However, the poll body did not follow this rule in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The first two phases took place on Friday, and turnout was lower in both cases than in 2019 in all but a few seats. Stages four and five are on Monday, with the final two stages on Saturday.
Polling booths in slums, multi-story housing communities
Another step taken by the ECI this time to combat urban apathy is setting up polling booths in slums and multi-storey housing communities in urban areas.
“In Gurgaon, Faridabad and Sonipat, some multi-storey housing societies will have polling booths. In slums, rationalization has been done so that congestion can be controlled and turnout can be increased,” Kumar said, adding Measures to control urban apathy are listed.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout in three city seats was lower than in 2019.
The counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly will be completed on October 4.
