Bihar Election Breakthrough: Understanding the Record-Breaking Voter Turnout

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The 2025 Bihar assembly elections have witnessed the highest voter turnout in the state's history, with a staggering 66.91% of eligible voters casting their ballots. However, this achievement may not be as impressive as it seems. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has attributed the high turnout to a reduction in the total number of registered electors due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. According to ECI data, the number of registered electors in the two phases of elections was 37.5 million and 37 million, respectively. The provisional voter turnout for the first and second phases was 65.08% and 69%, respectively. While the overall turnout is the highest since 1962 and 1977, it's essential to consider the context. The SIR exercise, aimed at updating electoral rolls, resulted in a 3.1 million reduction in registered electors compared to 2024. However, the actual number of voters who cast their ballots increased by 6.6 million. This discrepancy suggests that the SIR exercise may have removed names from the electoral rolls of individuals who were registered at multiple places, had migrated, or had passed away. While the SIR exercise may have led to some wrongful exclusions, it's clear that the benefits of the exercise outweigh the drawbacks. As we await the results of the Bihar elections on November 14, it's crucial to remember that the high voter turnout is a statistical anomaly, rather than a cause for celebration. The actual outcome of the elections will depend on various factors, not just the turnout.