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

The Tamil Nadu authorities precocious declared a nationalist vacation connected April 23, 2026, to alteration voters successful the State to formed their votes successful the Legislative Assembly predetermination scheduled for that day. But what astir those living, studying, oregon moving successful Tamil Nadu but are registered voters successful neighbouring Kerala oregon the Union Territory of Puducherry, wherever polling is scheduled for April 9?

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

Authorities person been asked to counsel employers crossed concern and commercialized establishments—including shops, factories, and public, and backstage assemblage organisations specified arsenic IT and BPO firms—to assistance a paid vacation to employees, casual workers, and regular wage earners connected the Tamil Nadu canvass time (April 23).

In addition, employers person been requested to assistance a paid vacation connected April 9, 2026, to employees residing successful Tamil Nadu who are registered voters successful Kerala oregon Puducherry, truthful they tin enactment successful their respective elections.

The connection besides directs the mounting up of State- and district-level power rooms to guarantee compliance, on with wide publicity of these measures. Notably, 9 districts of Tamil Nadu borderline Kerala, portion 5 stock borders with Puducherry.

This determination follows a akin petition from Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer. Under Section 135-B of the Representation of the People Act, each eligible voters employed successful immoderate constitution are entitled to a paid vacation connected polling day, without immoderate deduction successful wages. However, this proviso does not use wherever an employee’s lack “could origin information oregon important loss” to the establishment.