Bihar Election Phase 1 Records Highest-Ever Voter Turnout in History Since 1951 - What Drove the Surge?

Patna: Bihar on Thursday recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in the last 73 years as far as the first phase of the Assembly Election 2025 is concerned. In a statement, the Election Commission (EC)

said the first phase of the Bihar polls concluded peacefully, with the "highest-ever voter turnout of 64.66 per cent" recorded in the history of the state.According to Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjyal, the current voter turnout stands at 64.46 per cent, which has already surpassed polling percentage figures of previous elections in nearly seven decades. However, the polling percentage is only of the first round, therefore, the overall tally will only be known after the conclusion of phase 2, scheduled for November 11.The Chief Electoral Officer also informed that the final figure of the first phase will be updated shortly, as voting was still underway in some places.“The first phase of voting for the Bihar Assembly elections has been successfully completed. Voting is still ongoing in some places, and we're updating data. The current voter turnout is 64.46 per cent. We will release the final press note in an hour after everything is updated. The participation of women voters was very good,” said Vinod Gunjyal.

Adding further to his statement, Gunjyal said, “During the voting, 165 ballot units, 169 control units, and 480 VVPATs were replaced. The final data will be available in the press release. And this time, we had to replace only 1.21 per cent of the ballot units in the first phase, while in the 2020 Assembly elections, 1.87 per cent of the EVMs were replaced... This means we needed to replace fewer EVMs this time.”"By the end of voting, 143 complaints were received. All were resolved on time. Furthermore, all complaints received directly by phone were resolved on time," he said.

How Bihar Voted in Previous Elections Including First Ever in 1951-52

• During the first Bihar Assembly polls in 1951-52, the recorded turnout was lowest in the state's history at 42.6 per cent. The previous highest voter turnout in Bihar was recorded in 2000 at 62.57 per cent.
• In the 2020 Assembly polls held under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the polling percentage was 57.29.
• In the first Lok Sabha polls in 1951-52, Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 40.35 per cent -- the lowest.
• In the 1998 parliamentary polls, the state recorded its highest ever turnout of 64.6 per cent.

What Drove Voter Turnout Surge in Bihar Election Phase 1?

• According to the Election Commission, one of the reasons that could have driven the surge in voter turnout is the participation of women voters in large numbers.
• Another factor that might have fueled the surge is the deployment of more than 90,000 'Jeevika Didis' (women volunteers) by the Election Commission to ease the voting process for women voters.
• Polling across the majority of stations witnessed no incidents of firing or major EVM malfunctions, which may also have contributed to the overall voting percentage.
• The reduction in the overall voter base from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise could have accounted for the increased turnout.
• According to political analysts, a surge in voter turnout is often linked to anti-incumbency if people decide to bring a change of guard in the region or to pro-incumbency if they choose to retain the current regime in power.
• Better election management, deployment of polling staff, mock drills, enhanced security and facilities, and an increase in the number of polling stations could also have contributed to the overall turnout surge.

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What CEC Gyanesh Kumar Said on Historic Turnout in Bihar

According to officials, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has congratulated the voters of Bihar for the historic voter turnout in the first phase of Assembly polls since 1951.The CEC has also thanked the voters for expressing their complete faith in the EC and turning out to vote in such large numbers with fervour and enthusiasm.Kumar has also thanked the entire election machinery for working with full transparency and dedication.Meanwhile, elaborating further on some isolated issues raised during the election, Bihar Chief Electoral officer said, "Information about boycotts was also received at some polling stations, including polling station number 56 in the Brahmapur assembly constituency of Buxar district, polling stations number 165 and 166 in the Fatuha assembly constituency, and polling stations number 1, 2, and 5 in Suryagarha, near Lakhisarai... No untoward incidents have been reported in the first phase of voting that concluded today. Voting was conducted peacefully and smoothly."Speaking after voter turn out provisional figures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said, "In the first phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections, the NDA has gained a massive lead. Along with this, its wave is visible everywhere in the second phase as well. Amidst this very enthusiasm of the people-public, tomorrow afternoon around 1:45 PM in Aurangabad and approximately 3:30 PM in Bhabhua, I will have the good fortune of conversing with my family members."

Addressing the media after the first phase of Bihar election concluded on Thursday, ADG Kundan Krishnan said the polling concluded peacefully barring 2-3 random incidents. He said no firing was reported, and credited the intense checking, patrolling in last one month for the peaceful election."We came to know about 2-3 incidents. In Lakhisarai, deputy CM faced opposition from villagers, the DM, SP reached the spot immediately, the deputy CM was taken away. The second incident was reported from Saran, the sitting MLA Satyendra Yadav's vehicle was attacked. No injury has been reported. It can be said that the polling was peaceful. It was because of intense patrolling, checking in night. After the MCC came into force, the security personnel who came from outside, there was also Bihar Police, a record was made, a total of 850 illegal arms, 4,000 ammunition were recovered in a month, it was a big campaign. No firing incident was reported. Same force will be there during the second phase of polling."With inputs from PTI