May 20 is a public holiday in 8 states; see the full list and understand why

The stage is now ready for the fifth round of voting in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, which will take place after four stages. Voting for 49 seats spread across 8 states is set to take place on May 20.

Voting for the Lok Sabha seats on May 20 will take place on a public holiday, as some state governments have previously declared. The government of Bihar declared a paid vacation for the day of the election in March.

Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will see voting on these seats

Jammu and Kashmir: Baramulla; Bihar: Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Hajipur

Ladakh: Ladakh
Maharashtra: Bhiwandi, Thane, Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, and Maharashtra’s North, North-West, North-East, North Central, South Central, and Mumbai South
Odisha: Aska, Bolangir, Sundergarh, Bargarh, and Kandhamal
Uttar Pradesh: Amethi, Rae Bareli, Mohanlalganj, Faizabad, Kaiserganj, Gonda, Banda, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur
West Bengal: Hooghly, Arambag, Uluberia, Shrirampur, Howrah, Bangaon, and Barrackpore
Jharkhand: Koderma, Hazaribagh, and Chatra
The rationale for the public holiday
On May 20, voting for 49 seats across eight states will take place in the fifth round of the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. To boost the number of voters and public interest in voting, state administrations have proclaimed this day a public holiday.

In the districts where the polls will take place, orders have been issued to keep everything closed, including schools, offices, businesses, and institutions.

Sixth round of voting on May 25
In 57 seats, the sixth round of the Lok Sabha Elections will be held on May 25. Seven States and Union territories will be included in the sixth phase.