Bihar Elections 2025: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that all eligible voters will be granted a paid holiday on polling days during the Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections 2025 and bye-elections in 8 Assembly Constituencies.
Voting in Bihar will take place in two phases—November 6 (Thursday) for Phase I and November 11 (Tuesday) for Phase II. The bye-elections will also be held on November 11, 2025.
As per Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or other establishments and eligible to vote must be allowed a paid holiday on the polling day. No employer is allowed to deduct wages for this absence, and any violation will attract a penalty.
The provision also applies to daily wage earners and casual workers, ensuring that they too are able to cast their vote without losing daily income. The ECI also clarified that voters working outside their constituencies but registered in areas going to polls are entitled to a paid holiday for voting.
The Commission has instructed all State and Union Territory Governments to issue necessary guidelines and ensure strict compliance so that every voter can exercise their franchise freely and conveniently.
