Bihar Elections to be Held in Two Phases: Voting on November 6 and 11, Counting on November 14
The Election Commission has announced key details regarding the Bihar Assembly elections 2025. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with two other election commissioners, held a press conference to announce the dates. Elections will be held in two phases across all 243 assembly seats in Bihar. Voting for the first phase will be on November 6, and the second phase on November 11. The election results will be declared on November 14.
No Tolerance for Election Violence
The CEC emphasized that all preparations have been made for the elections, and violence will not be tolerated. Strict measures will be taken against fake news during the election period. Bihar will have 90,712 polling booths, with 13,911 in urban areas and 76,801 in rural regions. Responsibility for 1,044 polling booths will be entrusted to women.
Polling in Two Phases: 121 Seats in Phase 1 and 122 in Phase 2
The Chief Election Commissioner stated that 121 seats will go to polls in the first phase and 122 seats in the second phase. The notification for the first phase will be released on October 10, with the last date for nomination filings on October 17. Scrutiny of nomination papers will happen on October 18, and withdrawal of nominations can be done until October 20. For the second phase, the notification will be on October 13, nominations close on October 20, scrutiny on October 21, and withdrawal by October 23.
1.4 Million First-Time Voters
Gyanesh Kumar shared that Bihar has around 74.3 million registered voters, including approximately 39.2 million men and 35 million women. There are 1,725 third-gender voters. The voter list also includes 720,000 differently-abled voters, about 404,000 senior citizens above 85 years, and 14,000 voters over 100 years old. Around 1.4 million voters will be exercising their franchise for the first time in these elections.
Color Photos of Candidates on EVMs and New Voting Regulations
The CEC announced that, following political parties’ demands and for increased transparency, the photographs of candidates on electronic voting machines (EVMs) will now be in color, with larger font sizes for serial numbers. Another change is that postal ballots must be counted before the final two rounds of EVM counting.
A new rule permits voters to deposit their mobile phones outside the voting booth and retrieve them after voting to avoid disruptions.
Voter List Corrections up to 10 Days Before Nominations
If there are errors or omissions in the voter list, voters can appeal to the District Magistrate to get their names included up to 10 days before the nomination deadline. Citizens can also contact Booth Level Officers (BLOs) through the ECI Net app, and there are 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) statewide for voter assistance.
Smooth, Transparent, and Safe Elections are the Goal
CEC Gyanesh Kumar reiterated the commission’s intent to make these elections very easy and smooth for voters, ensuring strict law and order. Authorities have been directed to take no leniency towards any threat or violence against voters or candidates.
The Bihar Assembly’s current term ends on November 22. Political parties requested that elections be held immediately after the Chhath festival to ensure maximum voter turnout.
Past Elections for Reference
In 2020, Bihar Assembly elections were held in three phases: October 28 for 71 seats, November 3 for 94 seats, and November 7 for 78 seats. Counting was on November 10.
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Schedule and Phases Announced
The Election Commission of India has officially announced that the Bihar Assembly Elections will be conducted in two phases. Voting will take place on November 6 and November 11, 2025, across all 243 assembly constituencies. The results are scheduled to be declared on November 14. The election process is set to conclude before the current legislative term ends on November 22.
Key Details and Preparations
The polling will be held in two separate phases for better management and security. The first phase will cover 121 seats on November 6, mainly in central and northern Bihar, whereas the second phase will include 122 seats, mainly in border districts near Nepal such as Purnea, Darbhanga, and Madhubani, and will be held on November 11.
The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements, including deploying over 85,000 officers, setting up more than 90,000 polling booths, and ensuring strict security with central armed police forces. The commission also announced that ballot images of candidates will now include color photographs, and the font size for serial numbers on voting machines will be larger to ensure transparency.
Political Landscape and Alliances
The upcoming elections are highly significant for multiple political alliances. The NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is expected to seek re-election, fielding candidates across the 243 seats. Opposing them is the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which includes the RJD, Congress, and other parties. The seat-sharing formulas and alliance strategies are currently being finalized.
Prominent leaders like Tejashwi Yadav of RJD and Nitish Kumar have expressed confidence in their respective alliances’ chances. The election is also viewed as a reflection of public sentiment on major issues like unemployment, development, migration, and law and order.
Voter Engagement and Electoral Reforms
The Election Commission has emphasized conducting free, fair, and peaceful elections. It has highlighted initiatives such as the online verification of voter lists, increased awareness campaigns, and improved facilities for senior and differently-abled voters. The total voter turnout is expected to be high, especially considering the scheduled post-Chhath festival voting, which allows many migrant workers to participate.