The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday (November 6, 2025) witnessed encouraging democratic statistics – an impressive voter turnout in 121 constituencies. Preliminary estimates put the number at 64.69%, which may rise further when complete data is available from all polling stations. These same constituencies have consistently recorded voter turnout between 55.4% and 55.85% in the last four polls – parliamentary and general elections. A jump of nearly nine percentage points signals a resurgence of engagement in the electoral process. The numbers reveal a more compelling story. Despite the Special Intensive Review (SIR) process, which reduced the number of registered voters from 3.88 million in the 2024 general election to the current 3.73 million, the actual number of voters increased from 2.15 million to a provisional 2.42 million. Predictably, the ruling coalition was quick to attribute the increase to popular welfare schemes, labeling it pro-incumbency sentiment, while the opposition interpreted it as anti-government fervor and hunger for change. However, it would be premature to draw definitive conclusions from voter turnout numbers alone.
Academic studies have shown that there is little correlation between increased voter turnout and anti- or pro-occupation in assembly elections. However, disaggregated data could offer insights. The increase in women’s participation could confirm the impact of the cash transfer schemes introduced by the Nitish Kumar-led government on the eve of the elections. Conversely, the increased number of young people in the election could reflect a desire for change in a state where unemployment and large-scale migration remain persistent concerns. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to release data on voter turnout by gender, so such an analysis remains in the realm of speculation. It seems indisputable that the increased discourse surrounding the SIR process has played a role. The opposition voter Adhikar Yatra and the sustained focus on electoral roll issues seem to have sensitized citizens about the sanctity of their right to vote. A day before the polls, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed concern over irregularities in the electoral roll in Haryana, saying that the ECI had not intervened adequately. The first phase of turnout in Bihar offers an instructive lesson: concerns about electoral processes are most effectively addressed not only through criticism but also through the mobilization of organizational mechanisms to educate and energize voters about registration and participation. Congress and other opposition parties would do well to channel their concerns about electoral integrity into systematic grassroots work to empower citizens to demand their democratic rights—a strategy that could yield tangible results at the ballot box while strengthening democratic institutions.
Published – 8 Nov 2025 0:20 AM IST
