Bihar has become the first state in the country to ensure that all polling stations have fewer than 1,200 electors, a move aimed at reducing overcrowding and enhancing voter convenience. The Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations across the state, raising the total number of polling stations from 77,895 to 90,712.
This development follows the State Instructional Representation (SIR) order issued on June 24, 2025, which revised the earlier ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station to 1,200. The model is expected to serve as a template for other states and Union Territories ahead of future electoral exercises.
In preparation for the publication of the Draft Electoral Rolls on August 1, 2025, electoral officers at various levels—Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs)—have held extensive consultations with representatives of all 12 major political parties.
As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure inclusive voter registration, election authorities have shared detailed lists of 29.62 lakh electors whose application forms are yet to be received, as well as 43.93 lakh electors who were not found at their registered addresses. Political parties have been urged to coordinate with their respective District Presidents and nearly 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to reach out to these individuals and assist in updating the records.
The Election Commission has emphasized a “mission mode” approach to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the draft electoral rolls. Once the draft rolls are published on August 1, members of the public will be able to submit objections or requests for additions, deletions, or rectifications for a full one-month period, in line with provisions laid out in the June 24 SIR order.
This collaborative push involving election authorities and political stakeholders is part of a broader effort to strengthen the electoral process and improve voter accessibility ahead of the upcoming elections.
