Bihar Adds Booths, Becomes First to Cap Voters Below 1200 per Booth

Bihar has become the first state in India to have a polling booth with fewer than 1,200 voters, following the Election Commission of India (ECI) decision to increase the number of polling stations in the state.

The ECI has initiated a nationwide special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral list (voter list), with Bihar being the first state. The election to elect a new legislative assembly in the state is expected to be held before November 2025.

Increase in Polling Booths in Bihar 

The Election Commission of India issued a State Instructional Representation order on 24 June 2025, reducing the maximum number of voters in a polling booth to 1,200 from the existing 1,500.

This will reduce overcrowding in the booth, increase voter convenience, and help in the smooth management of the entire voting process.

The ECI, which is undertaking special intensive revision in Bihar, has achieved this by increasing the number of polling stations in the state from 77,895 to 90,712, a 12,817 increase.

Preparation of Electoral Rolls and their Revision  

Under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, the Election Commission of India is the sole authority for preparing electoral rolls for the election of the President, Vice President, members of Parliament, and members of state legislatures.

The Representation of the People Act 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, framed under the Act, have laid down the guidelines for the ECI to undertake revisions of electoral rolls in the country.

Summary and Special Revision 

Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act 1950 deals with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. The law mentions summary revision and special revision of electoral rolls.

Summary Revision - The ECI conducts a summary revision of the electoral list, particularly before the general election to the Lok Sabha or the legislative assembly of a State, or a by-election to any constituency.

Special Revision - The ECI can conduct a special revision of the electoral list at any time, provided it specifies the reason for undertaking the exercise.

Special Revision in the country and in Bihar 

The ECI  issued an order on 24 June 2025 announcing a nationwide special intensive revision of electoral rolls across the country, starting with Bihar.

Reason for the Special Revision

According to the ECI, the exercise is being carried out due to the following factors;

• Over the last 20 years, the country has experienced massive migration and rapid urbanisation.
• It has increased the possibility of large-scale duplication in the electoral list.
• The ECI is constitutionally bound to ensure that only citizens of India are enrolled in the electoral list.

Controversy in Bihar 

The Special Revision in Bihar was last carried out in 2003.

The present exercise has set the qualifying date as 1 July 2025.

Under the present exercise, electors must submit an enumeration form along with required documents to the Booth Level Officers (BLO) by July 25, 2025.

Electors registered after January 2003 must submit documents to establish the date and place of birth for themselves and their parent(s) as required. 

The ECI has listed 11 documents for this purpose, but the Aadhaar card is not included.

The Supreme Court has also asked the ECI to consider Aadhaar number, ration cards and voters' cards as valid documents for the exercise.

The ECI will publish the draft electoral list on 1st August 2025, and the public can file objections against the list until September 30, 2025. 

After that, the final list will be published by the ECI.

Also Read: Election Commission reduces maximum voters at a polling station to 1200