New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) will release the final voter list for Bihar on Tuesday, paving the way for the much-anticipated announcement of the assembly election schedule, which is expected next week.
According to sources, the poll panel will visit Patna on October 4 and 5 to review preparations before declaring the election dates. The first phase of voting is likely to take place shortly after the schedule is announced.
As part of its preparations, the EC is deploying 470 observers for Bihar and for upcoming assembly bypolls. A briefing session for general, police, and expenditure observers has been scheduled for October 3 in New Delhi.
The tenure of the current 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22. The last state polls, held in three phases, took place during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The final electoral roll is being published after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists conducted in Bihar after 22 years. A draft roll released on August 1 showed 7.24 crore registered electors, with the period for claims and objections open until September 1.
The revision has faced criticism from opposition parties, who allege that the process could disenfranchise a large number of genuine voters. Responding to these concerns, the Election Commission has assured that no eligible citizen will be excluded, while also ensuring that no ineligible name remains on the rolls.