New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll schedule for 18th General Elections and some state Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said the Lok Sabha elections will commence on April 19, 2024. He said the general elections are being held in 7 phases across 10.5 crore polling stations In India.

The counting of votes for all seven phases would be done on June 4, 2024, Tuesday. He also said Andhra Pradesh would go to polls on May 13, 2024, Monday. This year simultaneous assembly elections will be held in four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha.

CEC Rajiv Kumar said the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) would come into immediate effect from March 16, 2024, Saturday.

"96.8 crore are total electorates in the country. Out of this, 49.7 crore are male and 47.1 crore are female and 48,000 transgender voters. Meanwhile, there are 1.8 crore first-time voters in these elections," CEC Rajiv Kumar said.

“Our team is now complete, we are fully prepared for the biggest festival of Indian democracy,” Chief Election Commissioner said. He added that senior citizens and persons with disabilities would have the option to vote from home.

The term of the current Lok Sabha will expire on June 16 this year. In 2019, the Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases during April and May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP had won the previous Lok Sabha elections bagging 303 seats out of 543 Parliamentary constituencies in the country.