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Matadhikar India
How to vote

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Seven phases,
one count.

India votes in stages. The 2024 Lok Sabha election ran 7 phases over 44 days so that security forces and officials could move across the country, and all 543 seats were counted on a single day. The Election Commission sets the dates, not the law.

Upcoming and recent elections

  1. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 40 seats 2027 Goa Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  2. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 60 seats 2027 Manipur Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  3. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 117 seats 2027 Punjab Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  4. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 403 seats 2027 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  5. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 70 seats 2027 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  6. Dates not announced Upcoming · President · MPs and MLAs vote 2027 Indian presidential election Source ↗
  7. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 182 seats 2027 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  8. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 68 seats 2027 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  9. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 60 seats 2028 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  10. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 60 seats 2028 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  11. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 60 seats 2028 Tripura Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  12. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 224 seats 2028 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  13. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 90 seats 2028 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  14. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 230 seats 2028 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  15. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 200 seats 2028 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  16. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 119 seats 2028 Telangana Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  17. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 40 seats 2028 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  18. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 60 seats 2029 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  19. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 32 seats 2029 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  20. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 175 seats 2029 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  21. Dates not announced Upcoming · Lok Sabha · 543 seats 2029 Indian general election Source ↗
  22. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 147 seats 2029 Odisha Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  23. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 90 seats 2029 Haryana Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  24. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 90 seats 2029 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  25. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 81 seats 2029 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  26. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 288 seats 2029 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  27. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 70 seats 2030 Delhi Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  28. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 243 seats 2030 Bihar Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  29. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 126 seats 2031 Assam Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  30. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 140 seats 2031 Kerala Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  31. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 30 seats 2031 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  32. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 234 seats 2031 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  33. Dates not announced Upcoming · Assembly · 294 seats 2031 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  34. 9 April 2026 Counting 4 May 2026 Complete · Assembly · 126 seats 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  35. 9 April 2026 Counting 4 May 2026 Complete · Assembly · 140 seats 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  36. 9 April 2026 Counting 4 May 2026 Complete · Assembly · 30 seats 2026 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  37. 23 April 2026 Counting 4 May 2026 Complete · Assembly · 234 seats 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  38. 23 April 2026 to 29 April 2026 · 2 phases Counting 4 May 2026 Complete · Assembly · 294 seats 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  39. 6 November 2025 to 11 November 2025 · 2 phases Counting 14 November 2025 Complete · Assembly · 243 seats 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  40. 5 February 2025 Counting 8 February 2025 Complete · Assembly · 70 seats 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  41. 20 November 2024 Counting 23 November 2024 Complete · Assembly · 288 seats 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  42. 13 November 2024 to 20 November 2024 · 2 phases Counting 23 November 2024 Complete · Assembly · 81 seats 2024 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  43. 5 October 2024 Counting 8 October 2024 Complete · Assembly · 90 seats 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  44. 18 September 2024 to 1 October 2024 · 3 phases Counting 8 October 2024 Complete · Assembly · 90 seats 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  45. 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 · 7 phases Counting 4 June 2024 Complete · Lok Sabha · 543 seats 2024 Indian general election (18th Lok Sabha) Source ↗
  46. 13 May 2024 Counting 4 June 2024 Complete · Assembly · 175 seats 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  47. 13 May 2024 to 1 June 2024 · 4 phases Counting 4 June 2024 Complete · Assembly · 147 seats 2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  48. 19 April 2024 Counting 2 June 2024 Complete · Assembly · 60 seats 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  49. 19 April 2024 Counting 2 June 2024 Complete · Assembly · 32 seats 2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  50. 7 November 2023 Counting 4 December 2023 Complete · Assembly · 40 seats 2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  51. 17 November 2023 Counting 3 December 2023 Complete · Assembly · 230 seats 2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  52. 25 November 2023 Counting 3 December 2023 Complete · Assembly · 200 seats 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  53. 30 November 2023 Counting 3 December 2023 Complete · Assembly · 119 seats 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  54. 7 November 2023 to 17 November 2023 · 2 phases Counting 3 December 2023 Complete · Assembly · 90 seats 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  55. 10 May 2023 Counting 13 May 2023 Complete · Assembly · 224 seats 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  56. 16 February 2023 Counting 2 March 2023 Complete · Assembly · 60 seats 2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  57. 27 February 2023 Counting 2 March 2023 Complete · Assembly · 60 seats 2023 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  58. 27 February 2023 Counting 2 March 2023 Complete · Assembly · 60 seats 2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  59. 1 December 2022 to 5 December 2022 · 2 phases Counting 8 December 2022 Complete · Assembly · 182 seats 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  60. 12 November 2022 Counting 8 December 2022 Complete · Assembly · 68 seats 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  61. 10 February 2022 to 7 March 2022 · 7 phases Counting 10 March 2022 Complete · Assembly · 403 seats 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  62. 20 February 2022 Counting 10 March 2022 Complete · Assembly · 117 seats 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  63. 14 February 2022 Counting 10 March 2022 Complete · Assembly · 70 seats 2022 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  64. 14 February 2022 Counting 10 March 2022 Complete · Assembly · 40 seats 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election Source ↗
  65. 28 February 2022 to 5 March 2022 · 2 phases Counting 10 March 2022 Complete · Assembly · 60 seats 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election Source ↗

Phases

Why it takes
six weeks.

Nearly 97 crore people were registered to vote in 2024. Central armed police are moved from state to state between phases, and every seat votes on one day so it can be policed at once.

Try it · A multi-phase election, day by day

Scrub the calendar.

Drag through the days from the announcement to counting. Each phase votes on its own day; every seat is counted together at the end.

    Try it · Section 30, Representation of the People Act

    The legal minimum.

    ECI picks the dates, but the law fixes the gaps. Choose a notification date.

    1. Notification 20 March 2024

      The President (Lok Sabha) or Governor (assembly) calls the election on ECI's advice; nominations open.

    2. Last day for nominations 27 March 2024

      The 7th day after the notification — s.30(a).

    3. Scrutiny 28 March 2024

      The day after nominations close; the Returning Officer checks papers and affidavits — s.30(b).

    4. Last day to withdraw 30 March 2024

      The second day after scrutiny; the final list of candidates is then published — s.30(c).

    5. Earliest polling day 13 April 2024

      Not earlier than the 14th day after the last date for withdrawal — s.30(d).

    Model Code of Conduct

    The rules of
    the campaign.

    Governments
    No new schemes, projects, grants or foundation stones; no transfers of election officials without ECI approval.
    Ministers
    May not combine official tours with campaigning or use official vehicles and machinery for party work.
    Speeches
    No appeals to caste or communal feeling; no use of places of worship for campaigning; no bribery or intimidation.
    Advertising
    Party advertisements on TV, radio and social media need pre-certification by ECI's media committees.
    Status
    The Model Code is not a statute: it is a consensus of parties, enforced by ECI's notices and censure, and by the criminal law it overlaps.

    Step through · From announcement to declaration

    How an Indian election runs.

    The same sequence applies to the Lok Sabha and to every state assembly.

    Step 1 of 8 · Election Commission

    Announcement

    ECI announces the schedule at a press conference. The Model Code of Conduct applies from that moment until the results are declared.

    Section 126A

    The exit-poll
    embargo.

    Since 2010 no exit poll may be conducted or published from the start of voting in the first phase until half an hour after polls close in the last. In 2026 the window ran from 7 am on 9 April to 6:30 pm on 29 April.

    Separately, section 126 bars displaying election matter on TV or similar media in a constituency for 48 hours before its polls close. Opinion polls fall under this silence; exit polls fall under the longer 126A ban. Prediction-market prices are shown below as information only, and withheld during any 126A window. There is no link to the market: real-money online games, and advertising them, are banned under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

    Try it · Section 126A

    Can this exit poll be published yet?

    Pick an election and a moment (India Standard Time).

    Counting day

    Round by round.

    Counting starts at 8 am in halls under the Returning Officer, with candidates' agents watching. Each round covers a batch of EVMs (usually 14 tables), and ECI posts leads as rounds finish: "Round 14 of 27". A seat is declared after the last round and the VVPAT check. Follow the next count on live results.

    By-elections

    Vacancies.

    When a seat falls vacant through death, resignation or disqualification, ECI must hold a by-election within six months (s.151A RPA), unless less than a year of the term remains. Five assembly by-elections were counted on 9 October 2026.

    Simultaneous polls

    One nation, one election?

    Lok Sabha and assembly elections were held together until 1967. Early dissolutions de-synchronised them. A constitutional amendment bill to realign them was introduced in December 2024 and sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

    Local elections

    A different referee.

    Panchayat and municipal elections are run by each state's own State Election Commission, not ECI (Articles 243K and 243ZA). How local government works →