Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will release the final electoral roll of Bihar on Tuesday, paving the way for the formal announcement of the state assembly election schedule next week.
Senior officials of the poll panel will be visiting Patna on October 4 and 5 to review poll preparedness, sources said. The election schedule is expected to be announced shortly after the visit.
Observers and Preparations
The ECI has appointed 470 observers for Bihar and upcoming assembly bypolls across states. A briefing session for general, police, and expenditure observers will be held in New Delhi on October 3.
The last assembly elections in Bihar, held in 2020, took place in three phases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bihar’s Final Voter List
The final electoral roll has been published after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls — conducted after a 22-year gap.
Draft rolls were published on August 1.
Citizens and political parties could file claims and objections until September 1.
The draft rolls included 7.24 crore electors.
While opposition parties have alleged that the SIR could disenfranchise “crores of genuine voters,” the ECI has assured that no eligible voter will be excluded, and at the same time, no ineligible person will be included.
Who Gets the Voter List Free?
Recognised national and state political parties will receive hard and soft copies free of cost and the rolls will also be available on the ECI website. Eligible parties include:
BJP, INC, JD(U), RJD, CPI, CPI(M), NPP
Regional parties that are not recognised, newly formed outfits, and independent candidates will need to pay fees:
Jan Suraj Party (JSP), LJP (Ram Vilas), BSP, AIMIM, and others
Fee structure:
Hard copy: ₹100 per constituency → ₹24,300 for all 243 seats
Soft copy (PDF): ₹50 per constituency → ₹12,150 for all 243 seats
Election Timeline
The first phase of polling is likely to take place after the Chhath festival in late October. The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22, 2025.
Bihar Final Voter List Out Today, Election Schedule Likely Next Week
