EC announces new reforms in Bihar polls, model will be implemented across India
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections on Monday, with voting to take place in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes on November 14.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the elections, covering 243 assembly constituencies, will be a model for the rest of the country in ensuring cleaner electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists.
“These elections will show the rest of the country the path towards the purification of voter rolls,” the Chief Election Commissioner said.
17 new nationwide initiatives
The Election Commission has unveiled 17 key initiatives that will be rolled out across the country, including in Bihar, to enhance transparency, efficiency, and voter experience during elections:
- Training of Booth Level Agents (BLAs): Political parties’ agents trained in voter roll preparation and appeals under the RP Act, 1950.
- Training of Booth Level Officers (BLOs): Over 7,000 BLOs and supervisors trained at IIIDEM, New Delhi.
- Training for Police Officers: Special sessions conducted for Bihar Police to strengthen law-and-order preparedness.
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Purification of Bihar’s electoral rolls to include only eligible voters.
- Enhanced Remuneration: Doubled pay for BLOs, improved allowances for supervisors, polling staff, CAPF, and micro-observers; honorarium introduced for EROs and AEROs.
- Free Delivery of EPICs: New SOP ensures delivery within 15 days of roll update, with SMS tracking.
- Photo ID Cards for BLOs: Issued to boost transparency and public trust.
- Mobile Deposit Facility: Voters can deposit mobile phones outside polling stations.
- Clearer Voter Information Slip (VIS): Serial and part numbers displayed prominently.
- One-Stop Digital Platform: ECINet app to provide near real-time voter turnout data every two hours on polling day.
- Polling Station Cap of 1,200 Voters: To reduce crowding and improve accessibility.
- Candidate Booths Beyond 100 Metres: Campaign booths allowed just outside 100 metres from polling stations.
- 100% Webcasting: Live monitoring of polling stations to prevent violations.
- Revised EVM Ballot Paper Guidelines: Ballot papers now clearer with candidate photographs.
- Mandatory VVPAT Count For Mismatches: Every mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data to trigger a VVPAT count.
- Streamlined Postal Ballot Counting: Final EVM/VVPAT round only after postal ballot counting.
- Digital Index Cards & Reports: Constituency-level data digitized for easier access by all stakeholders.
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