Bihar sees an over 50% rise in voter base between 2005 and 2025; moves up in national rankings in electorate growth

Bihar has witnessed faster rise in electorate growth

Nearly 80 million people are expected to be eligible to vote in the upcoming Bihar assembly election—more than twice the number of electors in 2005. Despite a general slowdown in the pace of new voter additions across India over the past decade, Bihar has advanced to become the ninth-fastest growing state in terms of electorate expansion, up from twelfth a decade earlier.

The Election Commission last month started the process of special intensive revision of electoral rolls to capture the changing dynamics. The exercise for its nature and timing has run into problems, with opposition and civil society groups. The Supreme Court on July 10 deferred the hearing of the case, while also suggesting to Election Commission to expand the list of accepted IDs.

Between 2014 and 2024, the state added voters at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.15 percent, down only slightly from 2.62 percent in the previous decade. This decline of 0.47 percentage points is less severe than the nationwide average decline of 0.65 percentage points—from 2.44 percent in 2004–14 to 1.78 percent in 2014–24.

Bihar is not alone in witnessing significant growth. Delhi’s voter base grew by 74 percent, while Haryana’s rose 64 percent over the last two decades. Among less urbanised states, Assam, West Bengal, and Rajasthan also recorded sharp increases in their electorate, growing by 64 percent, 61 percent, and 54 percent respectively—well above the national average of 45.6 percent.

Assam and Jharkhand are among the few states that witnessed a rise in the pace of voter addition as well. Assam’s annual growth rate in voter numbers rose to 3 percent in 2014–24 from 2.55 percent a decade earlier. Similarly, Jharkhand’s rate increased to 2.71 percent from 2.14 percent. These two states are part of only eight across the country that reported an acceleration in electorate growth over the past decade.

In contrast, Delhi’s voter growth rate fell sharply from 4.22 percent in the 2004–14 period to 2.02 percent in the past decade. Uttar Pradesh witnessed an even sharper slowdown, with the voter growth rate dropping 1.36 percentage points to 1.19 percent, placing it among the bottom five states for voter addition between 2014 and 2024. The decline may reflect increased outmigration from the state.

Punjab and Chandigarh recorded the slowest growth, with Punjab at 1.06 percent and Chandigarh at just 0.79 percent.

Election Commission of India plans to initiate a special intensive revision exercise in Delhi and West Bengal after Bihar.