7-Phase Lok Sabha Election Schedule Announced, Here's All You Need to Know

The Election Commission on Saturday announced the poll schedule for the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. As per the schedule, elections will be conducted in 7 phases, spanning over a period of 46 days, and the results will be declared on June 4. A total of 96.8 crore voters are expected to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections.

The elections will start with the first phase on April 19. Phase two of the polls will be conducted on April 26, followed by phase three on May 7. The fourth phase will follow on May 3, the fifth phase on May 20, followed by the sixth phase on May 25, and end with the seventh phase on June 1.

The states of Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will go for polling in all 7 phases, while elections will be conducted in 5 phases in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. Elections will be conducted in four phases in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand, and in three phases in Chhattisgarh and Assam. The states of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura and Manipur will go for polling in two phases and elections will be conducted in a single phase in all other states and Union Territories.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar outlined all the measures undertaken by the Election Commission to ensure a free and fair election, during the press conference. The poll body will ensure that the elections are inclusive and environmentally friendly. Basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets for men and women, sinages, ramps and wheelchairs, voter facilitation centers, sufficient lights, and sheds will be made available at all polling centers. The Chief Election Commissioner also highlighted the challenges faced by the poll body centered on the 4 Ms - Machine, Money, Misinformation, and MCC Violations, in addition, the measures taken to combat such problems were also announced.​