Bihar Assembly polls to see new initiatives: ECINET dashboard, shorter queues, postal ballot counting before final EVM rounds, and stricter security. Seventeen EC reforms aim for transparency and efficiency: mobile deposits, 100% booth webcasting, better voter awareness, and standardized poll staff IDs.
BY PC Bureau
October 5, 2025 – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday confirmed that elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly will be conducted before November 22, when the current Assembly’s term ends. Speaking at a press conference in Patna following the Election Commission’s (EC) two-day review, Kumar emphasized that the poll body is introducing 17 new initiatives to ensure free, fair, and smooth elections.
“These elections will be completed before November 22,” Kumar said, adding that the full Commission has reviewed all aspects of preparedness.
Kumar clarified that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which was successfully completed in Bihar, aimed to cleanse the voter list and remove ineligible entries, including those of individuals who may have been residing in the state without proper documentation. He stated that the Commission had taken necessary steps to verify the authenticity of voter information and had collaborated with local authorities to ensure the accuracy of the electoral rolls.
VIDEO | Patna, Bihar: Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar says, “Special Intensive Revision (SIR) began on June 24, 2025 and ended before the deadline that was set for it. For the mental motivation of the BLO workers who worked tirelessly,… pic.twitter.com/PS4C7mDnzr
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 5, 2025
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Key Initiatives for Voter Convenience and Transparency
Among the major reforms:
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Reduced Voter Load per Booth: The number of electors per polling station has been cut from 1,500 to 1,200 to minimize long queues.
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Mobile Phone Deposit Facilities: Voters can now deposit mobile phones outside the polling booth and collect them after voting.
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Voter Information Slips (VIS): Redesigned with enlarged serial and part numbers to reduce processing time.
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Booth-Level Official Training: For the first time, Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were trained at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Delhi. BLOs have also received standardized photo IDs.
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ECINET Dashboard: A centralized platform consolidating around 40 forms used in the electoral process, easing administrative work.
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Canvassing Restrictions: Political parties must maintain a 100-metre distance from polling stations.
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100% Webcasting: All polling stations in Bihar will be monitored via live webcasting.
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EVM and Postal Ballot Reforms: Ballot serial numbers enlarged, candidates’ photos in colour, and postal ballots to be counted before final EVM rounds. Presiding officers will hand over Form 17C with booth-wise polling data to party agents.
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Enhanced Voter Awareness: Updated voter identity cards and candidate information materials.
CEC Kumar also noted that voter list cleansing, overseen by 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and 90,207 BLOs, has been completed after nearly 22 years. BLOs and supervisors across India received specialized training, while their remuneration was doubled, along with allowances for polling and counting staff. Provision of refreshments for election personnel has also been enhanced.
Stakeholder Engagement and Review
During the EC’s visit, officials met with representatives of recognized national and state political parties, including the BJP, Congress, RJD, JD(U), and AAP, who suggested holding elections immediately after Chhath festival in as few phases as possible to maximize voter participation.
The Commission also held meetings with Divisional Commissioners, IGs of Police, District Election Officers, and CAPF nodal officers, covering election planning, logistics, law and order, training, enforcement, and social media monitoring. Officials were instructed to respond promptly to complaints and maintain strict impartiality.
Counting and Post-Election Transparency
CEC Kumar highlighted reforms in counting: any mismatches in Form 17C will no longer require full VVPAT recounts, and postal ballots will be processed in advance. The ECINET digital dashboard will allow voters and stakeholders to access detailed election data shortly after polling concludes.
A Landmark Polling Exercise
“These 17 initiatives, first implemented in Bihar, will be gradually incorporated nationwide,” Kumar said. “They aim to enhance transparency, reduce congestion, and improve voter experience at every stage—from registration to counting.”
