The Election Commission of India (ECI) has unveiled 17 new initiatives aimed at streamlining the electoral process and enhancing voter experience for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. These measures, announced on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in Patna, are expected to be adopted nationwide, setting a new standard for future elections.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar highlighted that these initiatives focus on reducing crowding and wait times at polling booths, ensuring convenience for voters. One key step involves limiting the number of voters per polling station to a maximum of 1,200. This measure aims to minimize long queues and facilitate a smoother voting process.

Recognizing security concerns, the ECI will establish counters outside polling stations for voters to deposit their mobile phones. This will ensure compliance with regulations prohibiting mobile phones inside polling areas.

To enhance transparency, the ECI has introduced standard photo ID cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs). These ID cards will help voters easily identify and approach BLOs for assistance, fostering trust and accessibility. The ECI also trained booth-level officers for the first time.

The ECI is leveraging technology to improve the dissemination of information. Presiding officers will be required to upload voter turnout data on the ECINET app every two hours on polling day. This will provide real-time updates on polling trends, reducing delays in information dissemination. Further implementation of ECI-NET is gradually taking place.

In a move to enhance inclusivity, the ECI will display colored photographs of candidates on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the first time. This will help voters easily identify their preferred candidates, particularly in constituencies with a large number of contenders.

To address concerns about discrepancies in vote counting, the ECI has mandated that Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips be counted in every instance of a mismatch between Form 17C (provided by the presiding officer to polling agents) and EVM data. The ECI will also ensure mandatory VVPAT slip counts for any errors regarding mock poll data. Moreover, postal ballots will be counted before the final two rounds of EVM counting.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was completed on schedule, after beginning on June 24, 2025. The ECI gave ample time for claims and objections after releasing the draft electoral roll on August 1, 2025. The CEC stated that if any political parties feel names have been left out, they can still apply. For homes without numbers, the ECI has provided the next door's number or a number to ensure voters from those houses are still enrolled.

The ECI's efforts extend beyond the Bihar elections. Over the past six months, the ECI has launched 28 key initiatives to modernize and strengthen the electoral system. These initiatives span stakeholder engagement, electoral system cleanup, technology adoption, electoral roll purity, ease of voting, and capacity building. Initiatives include ECINET, a digital platform integrating over 40 apps for voters, officials, and political parties; 100% webcasting at polling stations; and updated voter information slips. The ECI has also held meetings with political parties and taken measures to improve electoral roll integrity.

The term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, 2025, and elections will be held before that date.