The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed all employers in Kerala to grant a paid holiday on April 9, 2026, the day Kerala heads to the polls for its Assembly elections. The directive applies to every eligible voter employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or other establishment, and covers daily wage and casual workers as well.
The ECI invoked Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, in its press note, stating: “No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday. Any employer who contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine.”
The mandate also extends beyond state borders. Employees registered as voters in Kerala but working in commercial or industrial establishments outside their constituency are entitled to a paid holiday to travel and cast their vote. The Kerala government has separately declared April 9 a public holiday for all government and quasi-government offices, commercial establishments, and private institutions under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
April 9 polling covers not just Kerala but also Assam, Puducherry, and eight Assembly by-election constituencies across Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra go to the polls later in the month. Results for all Assembly polls and by-elections are scheduled for May 4, 2026.
For HR teams, particularly those managing large blue-collar or contractual workforces in Kerala, the directive requires immediate action. Payroll must not flag April 9 as a loss-of-pay or leave-without-pay day for eligible voters, and any compliance gaps could invite scrutiny. The ECI has asked all state and union territory governments to ensure enforcement and make it easier for voters to exercise their franchise freely.
