The Chief Electoral Officer Punjab has issued comprehensive guidelines for the forthcoming General Elections to the Lok Sabha, as announced by the Election Commission of India on March 16 2024. The election schedule includes key dates and procedures essential for the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

According to the schedule, the important dates are as follows:

May 7 2024 (Tuesday): Date of issue of Gazette Notification.

May 14 2024 (Tuesday): Last date for making nominations.

May 15 2024 (Wednesday): Date of scrutiny of nominations.

May 17 2024 (Friday): Last date for withdrawal of candidatures.

01st June 2024 (Saturday): Date of Poll.

04th June 2024 (Tuesday): Date of Counting.

June 06 2024 (Thursday): The date before which the election should be completed.

The polling hours will be from 07:00 AM to 06:00 PM.

The guidelines direct that the nomination papers be filed with the respective Returning Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners of the designated Parliamentary Constituencies between 11:00 AM and 03:00 PM on any notified day, excluding public holidays, from May 07, 2024, to May 14, 2024. The nomination papers must be filed in FORM 2A, available with the Returning Officer, or in the prescribed format accessible on the CEO Punjab website.

To qualify for a Parliamentary (Lok Sabha) seat, candidates must be registered as electors for any Parliamentary Constituency and produce a certified copy of the relevant electoral roll entry. Additionally, candidates are required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or an authorized person.

It's important to note that May 10, 2024, being Lord Parshuram Jayanti, is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881, which allows for the presentation of nomination papers to the Returning Officer on that day. However, May 11, 2024, and May 12, 2024, are holidays under the Act, prohibiting the presentation of nomination papers on those days.