New Delhi: Maharashtra will hold its assembly elections in a single phase on the 20th of next month, while Jharkhand will conduct its polls in two phases on November 13th and 20th. Vote counting for both states will occur on the 23rd of next month. The Election Commission announced the poll schedules today, with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stating that the notification for Maharashtra’s 288-member assembly election will be issued on October 22nd, and nominations can be filed until October 29th. Over one lakh polling booths will serve 9.63 crore voters in Maharashtra.

In Jharkhand, the notification for the first phase of voting will be released on October 18th, with nominations accepted until October 25th. The second phase’s notification will be issued on October 22nd, with nominations open until October 29th. Chief Election Commissioner Kumar noted that 2.6 crore voters will cast their ballots at over 26,000 polling stations in Jharkhand. The Model Code of Conduct is now in effect in both states following the announcement.

Additionally, the Commission released the schedule for bye-elections in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha constituencies. Bye-polls for 47 assembly seats across various states and the Wayanad Parliamentary seat will take place on November 13th, while bye-elections for one assembly seat in Uttarakhand and the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra will be held on November 20th.