Global Compliance – India
India: Assembly Elections 2024 – Paid Time off for Voting
Every Indian citizen aged 18 and above holds the right to vote. The Representation of People Act, 1951, mandates businesses and establishments in the voting area to declare a holiday on election day, ensuring employees receive paid leave without any deduction from their salary for the purpose of casting their respective votes.
This regulation applies universally, covering public and private sectors, including daily wage earners and casual employees, irrespective of their residential and work constituencies.
Assembly Elections November 2024: Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Wayand (Kerala)
Maharashtra: The assembly election in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on Wednesday, November 20. All employees eligible to vote in Maharashtra will be granted paid time off to exercise their right to vote.
According to the order of the Election Commission– Every person engaged in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or any other establishment in the polling area where the election is held and entitled to vote in the State Assembly elections, shall be given a holiday on the polling day,
Jharkhand: The assembly elections are scheduled in two phases with voting on Wednesday- November 13 and Wednesday- November 20, all the employees eligible to vote in the scheduled voting phase and area will be entitled to paid-time off to cast vote.
Wayanad: All employees eligible to vote in the area will be entitled to receive paid leave to cast vote on November 13.
Takeaway: Employers are required to review their existing time off policies and make necessary arrangements to provide eligible employees mandatory paid holiday, for the purpose of casting their votes in the respective elections.
