From horse patrols to colour EVMs: Inside EC’s big Bihar election makeover

EC goes off-script in Bihar: colour EVMs, horse patrols, and a full-blown democracy experiment

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has turned the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections 2025 into a laboratory of innovation, launching a series of first-ever reforms to make voting more transparent, accessible, and technology-driven.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a packed press conference in Patna and New Delhi, said, “Many of the new initiatives being implemented in Bihar will serve as models for future elections across India.”

The polls for the 243-member assembly will be held in two phases, November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14, and the entire process wrapped up by November 16.

Let’s break down what’s new this time.

1. Colour photos and bigger fonts on EVMs

For the first time in any Indian election, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Bihar will display colour photographs of candidates along with larger fonts to make names and serial numbers more legible.

Earlier, the EVMs featured black-and-white photos, often leading to confusion among voters, particularly when symbols or names looked similar. The Election Commission believes the redesign will improve clarity and reduce errors.

“Voters should be able to easily identify their preferred candidate without confusion,” Kumar said.

2. Cap on voters per booth lowered to 1,200

In a move aimed at cutting long queues and improving access, the Commission has reduced the maximum voters per polling booth from 1,500 to 1,200.

The change has led to the creation of 12,817 new polling stations, taking the total number in Bihar to 90,712 — each equipped to handle fewer voters but with more efficiency.

This makes Bihar the first state to implement this reform, which the ECI plans to scale nationally in the coming years.

3. 15-day deadline for voter ID (EPIC) delivery

A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will now ensure that every registered voter receives their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) within 15 days of registration.

This measure, the Commission said, is designed to strengthen trust in the voter registration process and bring uniformity across districts.

4. Redesigned voter slips for clarity

The Voter Information Slip (VIS), the small paper voters carry to polling booths, has been redesigned to clearly display serial and part numbers.

This, officials say, will make it easier for voters and polling staff to verify entries quickly, cutting down confusion at booths.

5. ECINet app: direct connect with local BLOs

In a major digital leap, the ECI has launched ECINet, a single-window platform that brings together all electoral services under one interface.

The app allows voters to directly contact their local Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for assistance with registration, name correction, or any polling-related issue.

Voters can either:

Use the ECINet app to search and request a callback from their BLO, or call the 1950 helpline, using the local STD code (for example, +91-612-1950 for Patna).

Bihar is the pilot state for ECINet, integrating over 40 existing apps into one platform, connecting 90,000 BLOs, 243 EROs, and 38 DEOs digitally.

“Bihar is our testing ground for modernising India’s election machinery,” Kumar said, adding that the rollout will go national after feedback from the state.

6. Mobile deposit counters outside booths

To enhance voter convenience, the Commission will introduce mobile deposit facilities outside polling stations — allowing voters to safely store belongings like phones and bags before entering the booth.

This step, officials said, will improve security and streamline the movement of voters in and out of polling areas.

7. Anganwadi workers to verify burqa-clad voters

To ensure smooth identity verification, Anganwadi workers will be deployed across all polling stations to assist female voters, particularly those wearing burqas or ghunghats.

The CEC clarified that verification guidelines will be strictly followed as per Election Commission protocols, ensuring both privacy and authenticity.

The move came after BJP’s Bihar chief Dilip Jaiswal requested the Commission to ensure proper identification of women voters wearing burqas.

8. Horses, boats and boots: policing the polls

Security measures are being tailored to Bihar’s geography. In the flood-prone Diara region, police patrols will use horses in 250 polling stations, while teams in 197 stations will travel by boats to maintain law and order.

Kumar said these arrangements reflect the Commission’s “grounded planning for terrain-specific challenges.”

9. Official ID cards for booth officials

All booth-level officials will now carry official identity cards for easier recognition by voters. This is part of a broader push for transparency and accountability in polling operations.

10. A 'purified' voter list after 22 years

Perhaps the most significant administrative achievement, according to the CEC, is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) — an exhaustive voter list update completed after 22 years.

“The SIR exercise has purified Bihar’s voter list for the first time since 2003,” Kumar said. “It’s the cleanest and most accurate list in two decades.”

Over 90,207 BLOs worked under 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to complete the process, ensuring updated and error-free rolls for the elections.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)