Bihar has taken a historic step to strengthen democratic participation. It is now the first state in India to cap the maximum number of voters per polling booth at 1200. To do this, the Election Commission expanded the number of polling places from 77,895 to 90,712. Voters should anticipate shorter lines and improved access before elections, as Booth Level Officers have been assigned in equal numbers to guarantee seamless voter contact.
Political parties are also actively involved in this voter list revision. The Election Commission is moving rapidly with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, guided by constitutional and legal mandates. This reform is a major stride toward strengthening democracy at the grassroots.
More Booths, More Access
The core of the reform is voter convenience. Each booth will now serve no more than 1200 voters. This move aims to cut wait times and overcrowding during elections.
With the addition of nearly 13,000 new polling booths, the electoral infrastructure in Bihar is now more robust than ever.
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More BLOs for Better Voter Reach
Each of the 90,712 polling booths will now have a designated BLO. This is a jump from the previous 77,895. BLOs act as the first point of contact between the voter and the election process.
Their increase means more on-ground support, quicker response to voter queries, and fewer lapses in voter registration.
Four Times the Volunteer Strength
To assist citizens, the number of voter volunteers has been ramped up from 1 lakh to 4 lakh. These volunteers will help with new registrations, corrections, and queries.
Parties Step Up Too
Twelve recognised political parties have responded to the revision drive. They increased their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from 1,38,680 to 1,60,813. This involvement shows a bipartisan effort to clean and strengthen the voter list.
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Cleaning the Voter Rolls
The ECI has shared lists of deceased, relocated, duplicate, or untraceable voters with all political parties. BLOs made three attempts to verify each case. This transparency ensures an updated and reliable voter roll.
Public Access and Oversight
The draft voter list was printed on 1 August. It is now available for public viewing on the ECI portal. Citizens can access it at voters.eci.gov.in. In order to keep all parties informed, the Commission also publishes bulletins every day regarding claims and objections.
New Model for Democratic Delivery
This reform is democratic delivery in action, not just an administrative change. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, Bihar reduces the number of voters per booth. Rural voters, women, senior citizens, and first-time voters will benefit the most.
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