The Election Commission of India has announced paid holidays for voters in connection with the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections and bye-elections to eight Assembly constituencies scheduled for November 2025.
Polling in Bihar will take place in two phases — November 6 (Thursday) for Phase-I and November 11 (Tuesday) for Phase-II. The bye-elections for eight Assembly Constituencies will also be conducted on November 11.
Under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, all persons employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or other establishment, and who are entitled to vote in the concerned constituency, are required to be granted a paid holiday on the day of polling.
The Commission has reiterated that no deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a holiday. Any employer found violating these provisions may be liable to a penalty. This entitlement extends to casual and daily wage workers as well.
In addition, the Election Commission clarified that even voters who are employed outside their constituency but are registered in an area going to the polls are also eligible for a paid holiday to enable them to cast their vote.
The Commission has directed all State and Union Territory governments to issue necessary instructions to ensure strict compliance with these provisions and to facilitate free and fair voting.