Bihar Polls: Election Commission Announces 17 Key Reforms, Set to Expand Nationwide

Bihar Assembly Elections: Election Commission Rolls Out 17 New Initiatives, Sets Benchmark for Nationwide Adoption.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday unveiled 17 new initiatives ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, aimed at improving the electoral process in the state and providing a model for nationwide implementation.

“These initiatives have been implemented successfully in Bihar. Some will impact the conduct of elections, while others relate to counting procedures,” CEC Kumar said during a press conference in Patna.

Key Initiatives Introduced

1. Faster EPIC Delivery:
A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ensures that Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) will be delivered within 15 days of voter registration.

2. Mobile Deposit Facility:
Voters will now deposit their mobile phones outside polling booths, streamlining the voting process and reducing electronic interference.

3. Smaller Polling Booths:
Bihar becomes the first state in India where each polling station will serve fewer than 1,200 voters, down from the previous cap of 1,500. This was achieved by adding 12,817 new polling stations, raising the total from 77,895 to 90,712, thereby easing voter access and reducing queues.

4. Colour Photos and Larger Fonts on EVMs:
For the first time, Bihar’s ballots will feature colour photographs of candidates and larger serial number fonts on EVMs, replacing the previous black-and-white images, making candidate identification easier.

5. Booth Officials to Carry ID Cards:
All booth-level officials will carry official ID cards to ensure easier identification by voters.

6. 100% Webcasting Coverage:
All polling stations in Bihar will have complete webcasting coverage, enhancing transparency during the elections.

7. Revised Vote Counting Procedures:
Discrepancies between Form 17C and EVM counts will no longer require full recounts of all affected VVPATs. Additionally, postal ballots must now be counted before the final two rounds of EVM counting, streamlining the process.

Special Intensive Revision Completed

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, launched on June 24, 2025, has been completed on schedule. This revision ensures updated and accurate electoral rolls for the 243 Bihar assembly constituencies (including 38 SC and 2 ST seats).

Election Timeline

CEC Kumar confirmed that the Bihar Assembly elections will conclude before November 22, 2025, coinciding with the end of the current assembly’s term.

CEC Appeals to Voters

Kumar urged voters to participate enthusiastically, calling the elections a “festival of democracy.” He congratulated citizens for the successful completion of the SIR process and encouraged them to vote with the same zeal as they celebrate Chhath, Bihar’s most popular festival.

Political Parties and Election Commission Coordination

The announcement followed meetings between the Election Commission and most political parties, who expressed their desire to conduct the elections immediately after Chhath. Parties also thanked the EC for the successful and historic completion of the SIR, even as the process has sparked political debates ahead of the polls.

These reforms in Bihar aim to set a benchmark for other states, ensuring faster, transparent, and voter-friendly elections nationwide.