In an unprecedented event for Bihar's political landscape, the state's 2025 legislative assembly elections concluded with a perfect record. For the first time in recent history, the Election Commission did not order a single re-election across any of the polling stations in the two-phase poll, marking a significant achievement in electoral integrity.
A Flawless Electoral Process
The Election Commission officially confirmed on Wednesday that no re-election was recommended for any of the 122 assembly seats that went to polls in the second phase on November 11. This milestone follows the first phase, which also saw no re-polls. The EC stated that after thorough scrutiny, no discrepancies or malpractices were found at any polling station, making this the first such incident in Bihar's recent electoral history.
Record-Breaking Voter Participation
The two-phase voting concluded on Tuesday with a provisional voter turnout of 67.13%, the highest ever recorded in the state since 1951. A notable gender gap was observed in participation, with female voters significantly outperforming their male counterparts. The turnout among male voters was 62.98%, while a remarkable 71.78% of female voters cast their ballots.
The 'Bihar First' Initiatives Behind the Success
The Election Commission attributed this historic success to its 17 special "Bihar first initiatives," which were rolled out starting in March 2025. These measures were designed to enhance voter convenience, provide structured training for polling personnel, and implement technology-driven processes within the constitutional framework. The initiatives fostered a festive atmosphere that encouraged peaceful and record voting.
A key preparatory step was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of 2025, conducted with zero appeals to ensure the electoral roll was both up-to-date and clean. This exercise established a final count of 7,45,26,858 eligible electors who were able to cast their votes across the two phases seamlessly.
