Bihar’s Poll Season Nears—What the New Voter List Tells Us About Election Timing

Bihar’s assembly elections are around the corner, and the Election Commission (EC) is getting ready to announce the official schedule. If you’re following the buzz, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes—and a major update to the voters’ list is giving everyone a hint about what to expect.

 

Here’s what’s going on:

 

The EC is expected to announce the Bihar election dates in the next few weeks. Most signs point to polling happening in October or early November, before Diwali and Chhath, and probably spread over two or three phases.

 

What’s really caught attention is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list. This is the first time in over two decades that Bihar is seeing such a thorough update. The goal is to clean up the rolls—removing ineligible names and making sure everyone who should be on the list is included.

 

There are new documentation rules, especially for people born before July 1, 1987, or those not on the 2003 voter list. They’ll need to show proof of their birth date and place to stay on the rolls.

 

BLOs (Booth Level Officers) are going door to door to verify details, and political parties are also involved to keep things transparent.

 

The draft voter list comes out on August 1, and people will have a month to raise objections or make corrections. The final list is due September 30, which lines up with when the EC is likely to announce the election schedule.

 

There’s also a push to get first-time voters registered, so more young people can take part this time.

 

With all these changes, it’s clear the EC wants to make sure the Bihar elections are as fair and accurate as possible.

 

Source: India Today, Tribune India, News18, Hindustan Times, Patna Press, ABP Live