This massive deployment highlights the immense logistical effort behind a democratic vote. (Image: File)
As 121 constituencies across 18 districts in Bihar prepare to vote today, the scale of the electoral machinery is coming into focus. The successful execution of this massive democratic exercise rests on the deployment of tens of thousands of electronic voting machines and a vast army of government personnel working on the ground.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has undertaken a meticulous process to ensure the integrity of the voting process. For the first phase alone, a total of 54,311 Ballot Units (BUs) and 54,311 Control Units (CUs) have been allocated. These are accompanied by 58,123 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units. This massive fleet of EVM-VVPATs was randomly assigned to the 121 Assembly Constituencies using the EVM Management System (EMS). This randomization was conducted in the presence of representatives from national and state political parties to ensure complete transparency.
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The administration of today's vote is a monumental task requiring a small army of government employees. While an official, consolidated figure for all personnel deployed in Phase 1 is part of ongoing operations, the scale can be estimated from key roles. The core of the ground operation involves the officials manning the 45,341 polling stations. Every station is staffed with a presiding officer and several polling officers. Alongside them, nearly 5.33 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state play a vital role in maintaining electoral rolls and helping voters. The estimate, based on the Special Intensive Revision of rolls due in November 2025, shows the huge human network behind the election process.
The 45,341 polling stations are the primary points of contact for the 3.75 crore voters eligible in this phase.To improve both security and voter comfort, several special polling booths have been set up. These include 926 booths run entirely by women, 107 managed by Divyang (Persons with Disabilities) staff, and 320 model booths with better facilities. For safety, 1,650 companies of central paramilitary forces and state police have been deployed. Each polling station will also be watched in real time through live webcasting to a central control room.
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The deployment of over 54,000 EVMs and thousands of election personnel reflects the enormous task of holding a transparent election. Every participant—from the BLO managing voter rolls to the police officer ensuring order—forms part of this vast operation. Together, they make sure every citizen can vote smoothly and securely.
