Patna, 16 August (H.S.): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the successful Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar contributed to a significant increase in voter participation during the 2025 Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters at Patna airport during his two-day visit to Bihar, Kumar said the state witnessed exceptionally high voter participation in the Assembly polls, with turnout surpassing that recorded in several developed democracies, including the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

“Bihar is the land where Vaishali, the cradle of democracy, is situated. We take pride in the fact that the SIR was conducted here successfully for the first time,” Kumar said.

The CEC highlighted the importance of the electoral-roll revision exercise, which was undertaken to verify voter details and improve the accuracy of the electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections.

According to official figures, the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections recorded an overall voter turnout of around 67 per cent, marking one of the highest participation levels witnessed in the state since Independence.

Women recorded particularly strong participation, with their turnout exceeding that of male voters. The high participation was seen as an indication of growing engagement among voters across different sections of society.

Kumar said the Bihar experience demonstrated the importance of maintaining accurate electoral rolls while ensuring that eligible citizens are able to exercise their right to vote.

The SIR exercise involved extensive verification of electoral records and the participation of election officials and representatives of recognised political parties. The process was aimed at identifying discrepancies in voter records and ensuring greater reliability of the electoral roll.

The 2025 Assembly election in Bihar was conducted across the state amid considerable political interest, with the Election Commission emphasising measures aimed at ensuring a transparent and orderly polling process.

Kumar’s remarks came during his visit to Bihar to review election-related arrangements and interact with officials. He also underscored the significance of voter participation in strengthening democratic institutions.

The Election Commission has maintained that the high turnout in Bihar reflects increased public participation in the electoral process and demonstrates the importance of ensuring that elections remain accessible, inclusive and credible.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar