Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the country, Himachal Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manish Garg on Tuesday said that to ensure free and fair elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced Is. Complete ban on exit polls from April 19 to June 1 “Complete ban on conduct of any type of exit poll from 7 am on April 19 to 06:30 pm on June 1, 2024,” the Chief Electoral Officer said, adding, “This Kadam has also held general elections to the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim as well as by-elections to 25 assembly constituencies in 12 states.'' He further said that publications during this period Exit polls or campaigning through print or electronic media will be strictly prohibited. Earlier on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Manish Garg had announced that April 1 will now be the eligibility date for persons who have reached the age of 18 years. As per the revised guidelines, citizens who turn 18 on January 1, April, July or October will now have to enroll in the voter list four times a year, as per the revised guidelines. Changes have been made by the ECI for the first convenience. To exercise their franchise during elections, voters will have to register their names in the voter list four times a year. It is noteworthy that Lok Sabha elections are to be held in seven phases from April 19. Counting of votes is to take place on June 4. Elections to four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh and by-elections to six assembly constituencies, which fell vacant following the disqualification of rebel Congress MLAs and their eventual defection to the BJP, will be held on June 1.