The Tamil Nadu government has directed employers across the state to grant a paid holiday on April 9 to employees who are registered voters in Kerala or the Union Territory of Puducherry, ensuring they can exercise their franchise without loss of pay.
The directive was issued by K. Veera Raghava Rao, Secretary of the state’s Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, on March 24, invoking Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. It covers employees across industrial and commercial establishments in both the public and private sectors, including shops, factories, IT firms, and BPO companies, who reside in Tamil Nadu but are registered to vote in the two neighbouring territories.
Assembly elections in Kerala and Puducherry are scheduled for April 9, while Tamil Nadu goes to the polls on April 23. The staggered dates created a gap, leaving cross-border voters at risk of missing their home constituency elections: a concern the state government has now addressed through this order.
Officials noted that the directive is particularly relevant given Tamil Nadu’s geographic proximity to its neighbours, nine districts share borders with Kerala, and five border Puducherry, resulting in a significant number of inter-state voters working within the state.
The move follows a communication from Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik and was also triggered by a similar request from Kerala’s election authorities. To ensure implementation, the government has ordered the establishment of state- and district-level control rooms, and authorities have been asked to widely publicise the provisions so both employers and employees are aware of their rights and obligations.
The April 23 paid holiday for Tamil Nadu’s own polling day remains separately in effect for all other employees in the state.
Under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any employer who contravenes the provisions on paid poll holidays is liable to a fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees. The provision also covers daily wages and casual workers.
The Tamil Nadu order reflects a broader coordination between state governments and the Election Commission of India to maximise voter participation in the 2026 Assembly elections, which cover 824 seats across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, with counting scheduled for May 4.
