Will electors from Kerala and Puducherry residing in Tamil Nadu get a holiday to cast their vote? T.N. govt. issues advisory

The Tamil Nadu government recently declared a public holiday on April 23, 2026, to enable voters in the State to cast their votes in the Legislative Assembly election scheduled for that day. But what about those living, studying, or working in Tamil Nadu but are registered voters in neighbouring Kerala or the Union Territory of Puducherry, where polling is scheduled for April 9?

Following a communication from Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, the Secretary of the State’s Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, K. Veera Raghava Rao, on March 24 issued instructions in this regard, citing Section 135-B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Authorities have been asked to advise employers across industrial and commercial establishments—including shops, factories, and public, and private sector organisations such as IT and BPO firms—to grant a paid holiday to employees, casual workers, and daily wage earners on the Tamil Nadu poll day (April 23).

In addition, employers have been requested to grant a paid holiday on April 9, 2026, to employees residing in Tamil Nadu who are registered voters in Kerala or Puducherry, so they can participate in their respective elections.

The communication also directs the setting up of State- and district-level control rooms to ensure compliance, along with wide publicity of these measures. Notably, nine districts of Tamil Nadu border Kerala, while five share borders with Puducherry.

This move follows a similar request from Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer. Under Section 135-B of the Representation of the People Act, all eligible voters employed in any establishment are entitled to a paid holiday on polling day, without any deduction in wages. However, this provision does not apply where an employee’s absence “could cause danger or substantial loss” to the establishment.