Bihar has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first state in India to ensure that all its polling stations have a maximum of 1,200 voters. This move, initiated to reduce long queues and enhance voter convenience, is a significant step forward in improving the electoral process.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been working to reduce the number of voters per polling station to avoid voters traveling long distances to reach polling stations. As per the Special Instruction Report (SIR) order dated June 24, 2025, the previous ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station has been revised to 1,200. To implement this, Bihar has added 12,817 new polling stations, increasing the total from 77,895 to 90,712. This increase in the number of polling stations is expected to significantly reduce overcrowding and make the voting process more efficient.
In addition to increasing the number of polling stations, the state's election machinery has been actively working to refine its electoral rolls. As of June 24, 2025, Bihar has a total of 7,89,69,844 electors. Of these, 7,16,03,218 enumeration forms (90.67%) have been received, and 7,08,59,670 (89.73%) have been digitized. However, 43,92,864 electors (5.56%) could not be traced at their listed addresses, including 16,55,407 deceased, 19,75,231 permanently shifted, 7,50,742 enrolled at multiple places, and 11,484 untraceable electors. There are 29,62,762 forms (3.77%) yet to be received, covering 96.23% of the total electors so far.
To address these discrepancies and ensure that no eligible voter is left out, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have shared detailed lists of pending forms and untraceable electors with representatives of 12 major political parties. These parties have been urged to mobilize their District Presidents and approximately 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to connect with these voters, fostering a collaborative effort to finalize the draft electoral roll by August 1, 2025.
Starting August 1, 2025, the public can file objections for additions, deletions, or rectifications in the draft electoral rolls, with a one-month window as mandated by the SIR order. This collaborative push involving election authorities and political stakeholders is part of a broader effort to strengthen the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process.
The ECI views this achievement by Bihar as a model for other states and Union Territories to follow. By reducing the number of voters per polling station and actively working to refine electoral rolls, Bihar is setting a precedent for ensuring a smoother, more accessible, and more inclusive voting process across the country.
