Patna: In a major push for electoral reform, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has unveiled 17 new initiatives ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, setting the stage for a cleaner, more transparent, and technology-driven voting process. Many of these measures are expected to be replicated across the country after their successful rollout in Bihar.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, after a two-day review of poll preparations in Patna, said the reforms aim to strengthen voter confidence, reduce human error, and modernize the overall polling experience. He described Bihar as the “testing ground” for the future of Indian elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on 𝐁𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬:
“Some of the initiatives starting from Bihar include, first and foremost, the training of booth-level agents. For the first time, the Election Commission conducted such training, and all… pic.twitter.com/b9T72AuUDE
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 5, 2025
17 Key Reforms for Bihar Polls
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100% Webcasting: Every polling booth in Bihar will be live-streamed to ensure full transparency.
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Colour Photos on EVMs: For the first time, candidates’ colour photographs will appear on the ballot screens, making identification easier.
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Larger Text on Ballots: Fonts on EVM ballots will be bigger for improved readability.
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Bigger Fonts on Voter Slips: Voter slips will now have enlarged fonts to help voters locate their booths quickly.
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Mobile Phones Allowed Till Outer Area: Voters can now carry their phones up to the outer perimeter of polling stations.
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Photo Identity for Polling Staff: Booth-level officers and poll staff will wear clearly marked photo IDs.
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Mock Poll Participation by Party Agents: Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties will take part in pre-poll mock voting.
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Form 17C Access to BLAs: Agents will receive certified copies of vote tallies for cross-verification.
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Polling Agent Booths Within 100 Metres: Political parties can set up agent booths closer to polling stations for better monitoring.
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Faster EPIC Delivery: New voters will receive their photo ID cards within 15 days of registration.
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Reduced Voter Limit per Booth: The cap on voters per polling station is reduced to 1,200 to prevent crowding.
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More Polling Stations: Over 12,000 new polling booths are being added to improve accessibility.
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Unified ECI-Net Digital Platform: A new integrated digital hub will streamline all election-related apps and services.
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Honorarium for EROs and AEROs: Electoral Registration Officers will now receive financial incentives for their duties.
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Higher Pay for Poll Staff: Remuneration for BLOs, micro-observers, security personnel, and counting staff has been doubled.
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Improved Counting Protocols: Postal ballots will be prioritized for counting before final EVM tallies.
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Voter List Purification Drive: A massive clean-up of the electoral rolls has been conducted to remove duplicates and outdated entries.
Cleaner Rolls, Smarter Voting
Bihar’s electoral rolls have undergone a “purification” exercise after more than two decades, with over 3.6 lakh voters voluntarily removing duplicate or incorrect entries. The Election Commission called this a “model exercise” for the rest of the nation.
The new reforms will also bring a technological edge — from real-time monitoring and digital integration to webcasting and faster ID issuance. Together, they mark a decisive shift toward a more secure, inclusive, and efficient electoral system.
Setting a National Template
Over two days of meetings, the full EC team engaged with political parties, district officials, security forces, and enforcement agencies. The Commission said these initiatives will not only redefine how elections are conducted in Bihar but will also form the blueprint for all future elections in India.
In essence, Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections will be the pilot project for a modern, transparent, and citizen-friendly electoral revolution.
