diff --git a/apps/api/src/controllers/vote.Controller.ts b/apps/api/src/controllers/vote.Controller.ts
index 4fee4bf..5d0e7e5 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/controllers/vote.Controller.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/controllers/vote.Controller.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { submitVote } from '../services/vote.Service'
 
 export const createVote = async (c: Context<AppEnv>) => {
   const userId = c.get('userId')
-  
+
   let body: VoteRequest
   try {
     body = await c.req.json()
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ export const createVote = async (c: Context<AppEnv>) => {
   if (typeof stallId !== 'number' || typeof rating !== 'number') {
     return c.json({ success: false, message: 'stallId and rating must be numbers' }, 400)
   }
-  
+
   if (rating < 0 || rating > 10) {
     return c.json({ success: false, message: 'rating must be between 0 and 10' }, 400)
   }
 
   try {
     const progressCount = await submitVote(c.env, userId, body)
-    
+
     const response: VoteResponse = {
       success: true,
       message: 'Vote submitted successfully',
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ export const createVote = async (c: Context<AppEnv>) => {
     if (e.message === 'Already voted') {
       return c.json({ success: false, message: 'Already voted' }, 400)
     }
+    if (e.message === 'Voting is currently closed') {
+      return c.json({ success: false, message: 'Voting is currently closed' }, 403)
+    }
     return c.json({ success: false, message: 'Internal Server Error' }, 500)
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/vote.Service.ts b/apps/api/src/services/vote.Service.ts
index 43e2e3d..ada8d94 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/vote.Service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/vote.Service.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,41 @@ import { eq, count } from 'drizzle-orm'
 import type { AppEnv } from '../types'
 import { ensureUserExists } from './user.Service'
 import { refreshStallAggregates } from './stalls.Service'
+function isVotingOpen(): boolean {
+  const istOffset = 5.5 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+  const istTime = new Date(Date.now() + istOffset);
+
+  const year = istTime.getUTCFullYear();
+  const month = istTime.getUTCMonth() + 1;
+  const day = istTime.getUTCDate();
+
+  if (year !== 2026 || month !== 3) return false;
+
+  const timeInMinutes = istTime.getUTCHours() * 60 + istTime.getUTCMinutes();
+  const startMins = 9 * 60 + 30; // 9:30 AM (570)
+
+  if (day === 28) {
+    const endMins = 22 * 60; // 10:00 PM (1320)
+    return timeInMinutes >= startMins && timeInMinutes <= endMins;
+  }
+
+  if (day === 29) {
+    const endMins = 12 * 60; // 12:00 PM (720)
+    return timeInMinutes >= startMins && timeInMinutes <= endMins;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
 export const submitVote = async (
   env: AppEnv['Bindings'],
   userId: string,
   vote: VoteRequest
 ) => {
+  if (!isVotingOpen()) {
+    throw new Error('Voting is currently closed');
+  }
+
   const { stallId, rating } = vote
   const ormDb = getDb(env.DB)
 
@@ -49,11 +79,11 @@ export const submitVote = async (
         .select({ stallId: ratings.stallId })
         .from(ratings)
         .where(eq(ratings.userId, userId));
-      
+
       const stallIds = userRatings
         .map(r => r.stallId)
         .filter((id): id is number => id !== null);
-      
+
       await refreshStallAggregates(env.DB, stallIds);
     } else {
       // Normal vote (could be qualified or not, but only this stall is affected)