New Delhi: The Lok Sabha election will be spread over nine days starting April 7 and ending May 12 and the vote count will take place across India May 16, the Election Commission announced Wednesday.
Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said the polling dates would be April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24 and 30 and May 7 and 12.
Sampath said simultaneous assembly elections would be held in Sikkim, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
The model code of conduct has also been enforced from Wednesday.
The Election Commission also urged people to "exercise their right to vote" in the coming Lok Sabha election "in an informed and ethical manner".
He also appealed to political parties and candidates "to uphold the democratic traditions of the nation by maintaining high standards of political discourse and fair play".
"The Election Commission," he added, "reassures the nation of its solemn resolve and deep commitment to fulfil its constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections."
The Lok Sabha election is to be held over nine days, from April 7 to May 12. The vote count will take place nationally May 16.
The term of the current Lok Sabha expires June 1. A new house has to be constituted by May 31.
An estimated 814 million voters will be eligible to vote, with 97.1 million new voters added since the 2009 election.
The "None of the Above" (NOTA) option will be given to voters -- for the first time in a parliamentary contest.
About 800,000 polling stations will be set up across the country, according to Election Commission sources.
Around 1.2 million electronic voting machines will be used in the election and another 250,000 have been ordered from public sector companies.
In 2009, there were 714 million voters and 671 million in 2004.
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