Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday announced a set of 17 new initiatives to be introduced in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. He said the reforms aim to make voting more accessible, transparent, and efficient, while also serving as a blueprint for future elections across India.
“Seventeen new initiatives have been successfully implemented in Bihar, some in the conduct of elections and some for vote counting,” Kumar said at a media briefing.
Voter limit reduced to 1,200 per booth
In a first for India, Bihar will become the only state where every polling station will cater to fewer than 1,200 voters, down from the earlier cap of 1,500. The Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations across the state, taking the total number to 90,712. The move is expected to reduce crowding and improve voter convenience.
Colour photos and larger fonts on EVM ballots
Bihar will also pioneer the use of colour photographs and larger font sizes on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballots. The change, Kumar explained, will help voters easily identify candidates, replacing the current black-and-white photos. “The serial number will also appear in a larger font, and colour photographs will be used nationwide starting with the Bihar elections,” he said.
Booth officials to carry ID cards
For better identification, all booth-level officers will now carry official identity cards. Kumar said this would make it easier for voters to recognise polling staff and ensure smooth communication at polling stations.
Mobile phones to be deposited outside booths
To maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the voting process, voters will be required to deposit their mobile phones in a designated area outside the polling booth. “This process will be implemented throughout Bihar,” the CEC added.
100% webcasting at all polling stations
Ensuring full transparency, the Election Commission also announced that live webcasting will cover every polling station in Bihar during voting. Kumar said this step will help prevent irregularities and allow for real-time monitoring of the election process.
Revised counting procedure and postal ballot rules
Kumar clarified that any mismatch between Form 17C which is issued to polling agents and the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting unit will now trigger a full recount of the affected VVPATs. Additionally, postal ballots will be counted before the final two rounds of EVM counting, ensuring a more structured and transparent result process.
The CEC confirmed that the Bihar Assembly elections will be completed before November 22, 2025, when the current Assembly’s term ends. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which began on June 24, 2025, has been completed on schedule. Bihar has 243 constituencies, including 2 reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 38 for Scheduled Castes.
Extending greetings to voters, Kumar urged the people of Bihar to participate enthusiastically in the upcoming elections. “Celebrate this festival of democracy with the same fervour as you celebrate Chhath. Everyone should vote and contribute,” he said.
The announcement came a day after major political parties met the Chief Election Commissioner and urged the poll body to hold the Bihar Assembly elections “immediately after Chhath,” the state’s most celebrated festival later this month. According to news agency reports, parties also thanked the Election Commission for successfully completing the “historic” SIR process in the state, even as the revision has sparked fresh political debate ahead of the polls.
-
-
-
-
