Paid Holiday on Polling Day in Bihar Elections and Bye-Elections 2025

Chandigarh, Oct 2025 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025, and bye-elections in 8 Assembly Constituencies.

The dates of poll in Bihar have been fixed on November 6, 2025 (Thursday) for Phase-I and November 11, 2025 (Tuesday) for Phase-II, and the bye-elections to all 8 Assembly Constituencies are also to be held on November 11, 2025.

An ECI spokesperson said as per Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment, and entitled to vote at an election to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assembly of a State/UT, shall be granted a paid holiday on the day of poll. 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. All daily wage and casual workers are also entitled to a paid holiday on the day of poll.

The Commission further clarified that electors, including casual and daily wage workers, who are working or employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their constituency but are registered as voters in a constituency going to polls shall also be entitled to the benefit of a paid holiday on the day of poll to enable them to cast their vote.

The Commission has directed all State/UT Governments to issue necessary instructions to all concerned for strict compliance with these provisions and to ensure that all electors are able to exercise their franchise freely and conveniently.