India goes to polls in seven phases, results on 4 June

India will vote in seven phases over a six-week period beginning 19 April before votes are counted on 4 June, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar told media in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Election Commission said about 970 million people are eligible to vote in the general election, with more than 1 million polling stations scheduled to be set up across the country in the largest democratic exercise in the world.

Women voters make up more than half of the total electorate of 968 million at 471.5 million, the poll commission said.

The commission said there are 197 million young voters in the age group of 20-29, and another 18 million first-time voters in the 18-19 age group.

Simultaneous polls will also be held to elect members to the legislative assemblies in four states: Andhra Pradesh in the southern India, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the North-East, and Odisha in the East.

While 22 states will vote in a single phase, three states–Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal–will vote in each of the seven phases.

The first phase of the general election will be held on 19 April, the second on 26 April, the third on 7 May, the fourth on 13 May, the fifth on 20 May, the sixth on 25 May, and the seventh phase on 1 June.

Bye-elections to 26 assembly constituencies across the country are also scheduled to be held during the month-long exercise.