Patna: The 2025 Bihar Assembly Election has established a historic milestone, recording the highest voter turnout in the state’s history and, for the first time, conducting polling without any re-polling at any booth. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that the review for all 122 constituencies in the second phase of voting has been finalized, with no irregularities detected. A total of 122 Returning Officers (ROs) and 122 General Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) scrutinized all voting records in the presence of 460 candidates and their representatives. The entire process was videotaped for transparency and indicated no requirement for re-polling — a first for Bihar’s electoral history.
After verification, the returning officers resealed Form 17A and associated documents. Record voter participation The state achieved an overall voter turnout of 67.13%, exceeding participation in previous assembly elections. The first phase saw a turnout of 65.08%, while the second phase marked a rise to 69.20%. Significantly, women voters surpassed men by 8.8 percentage points, with 71.78% of women participating compared to 62.98% of men. Out of Bihar’s 74.5 million registered voters, over 50 million exercised their right to vote. Officials and analysts have noted this as indicative of a growing political engagement among women, who are increasingly recognized as a pivotal force in influencing Bihar’s political landscape.
A milestone in electoral conduct The absence of re-polling, a common occurrence in previous Bihar elections, was notable this year. Past elections recorded re-polling in various booths: 2015 Assembly Elections: 2 booths, 2020 Assembly Elections: 3 booths, 2014 Lok Sabha Elections: 96 booths, 2019 Lok Sabha Elections: 3 booths, 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: 2 booths. The clean record this year, according to the Election Commission, signifies improved administrative coordination, enhanced security protocols, and increased voter awareness. “Bihar has showcased the maturity of democracy,” stated CEC Gyanesh Kumar. “The successful completion of elections without any re-polls is a testament to the state’s peace, vigilance, and administrative precision.” Counting day protocols Counting of votes will commence tomorrow at 8 a.m.
across 46 centres in the state. Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjyal has instructed all District Magistrates to strictly follow ECI protocols. Mobile phones will be prohibited within counting locations, while victory processions, sloganeering, and public gatherings have been banned to ensure law and order. Early trends are anticipated by 9 a.m., with results for most of the 200 assembly seats expected by 2 p.m. Winning candidates will receive certificates from their respective returning officers after final confirmation. At the A.N. College counting centre in Patna, stringent security has been implemented around the strong room. Counting will initiate with postal ballots and ballot papers, followed by EVM votes around 8:30 a.m.
Each round will cover 14 EVMs across 14 tables, with officials assigned through a third randomization process set for 6 a.m. In the event of discrepancies between Form 17C and EVM data, VVPAT slips from the relevant booth will be verified. Postal ballot counting will conclude before the final round.