In a landmark electoral reform, Bihar has become the first state in India where all polling stations (PS) have been restructured to serve fewer than 1,200 electors each. This progressive step is aimed at enhancing voter convenience, reducing crowding, and ensuring smoother electoral processes in future elections.
To achieve this, the State Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations, increasing the total number of polling stations in Bihar from 77,895 to 90,712. This restructuring follows the State Implementation Report (SIR) order dated June 24, 2025, which revised the previous ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station to 1,200. This reform is now being seen as a model for other states and union territories to follow in upcoming elections.
Comprehensive Voter Verification Drive
As part of this initiative, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have conducted detailed meetings with representatives of 12 major political parties. In these meetings, the Election Commission shared critical data concerning 29.62 lakh electors whose application forms (Form 6) are still pending, and about 43.93 lakh electors who were not found at their registered addresses during verification.
Political parties have been urged to actively assist in voter outreach, through their District Presidents and 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs), to connect with these missing or unverified electors and encourage them to verify or update their records.
Public Participation in Electoral Roll Verification
Starting from August 1, 2025, the Election Commission will publish the Draft Electoral Rolls, after which any citizen can file objections or request corrections, additions, or deletions. The public will be given a full month to participate in this critical democratic exercise, ensuring transparency and accuracy in the final voter list.
This collaborative and mission-mode effort between the election machinery and political parties aims to ensure that no eligible voter is left out and that the 2026 elections and beyond witness higher voter satisfaction through better polling station management.
Bihar’s initiative stands as a milestone in electoral inclusion and accessibility, setting the tone for nationwide voter-centric electoral reforms, for more details CLICK HERE
