The Election Commission said on Thursday that voters in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore Lok Sabha seat will go to the polls on August 5, and votes will be counted on August 9. It also fixed July 20 as the polling date for the Patkura Assembly seat in Odisha, where the election had been put off because of cyclone Fani.

Why Vellore’s election was cancelled

In April, President Ram Nath Kovind cancelled the Vellore Lok Sabha poll on the Commission’s recommendation, after a report that money was being used to sway voters. Income Tax officials had recovered ₹11.48 crore from the home of an alleged associate of the DMK treasurer; the treasurer’s son was the DMK’s candidate in Vellore.

Arrangements for polling day

The Commission said Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail units would be used at every polling station, and that enough machines had been arranged for smooth polling.

Following past practice, voters will have to prove their identity before casting their ballot. The Electoral Photo Identity Card will be the main document, but the Commission said separate instructions would allow other documents so that no voter whose name is on the rolls loses the chance to vote.

The model code of conduct came into effect immediately.

Background

The rest of the 2019 Lok Sabha election was held between 11 April and 19 May, and votes were counted on 23 May 2019.

See also: DMK | Elections

Originally published on 5 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us