KKN Gurugram Desk | With the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 approaching, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has accelerated its preparations to ensure a smooth and error-free voting process. According to the office of Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), significant logistical arrangements have been made to avoid any disruption due to Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions or technical issues on polling day.

In a proactive move, the commission has arranged 25% extra Ballot Units (BU), 25% extra Control Units (CU), and 35% extra Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines to be kept in reserve at polling booths.

These additional machines will be used for mock polls, as well as replacements in the event of any technical failures during live polling.

 Bihar Election Preparations Underway: Key Equipment Details

The Election Commission has confirmed that all electronic voting infrastructure is being verified and dispatched in a phased manner to various districts across Bihar. The logistical strategy includes:

• 25% reserve Ballot Units (BU)

• 25% reserve Control Units (CU)

• 35% reserve VVPATs

This backup inventory is a standard precautionary measure to ensure polling continuity in case any unit fails to function on the election day or during pre-election test runs.

 Only ECIL-Manufactured EVMs to Be Used in 2025 Elections

For the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission has decided to exclusively deploy EVMs manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), based in Hyderabad.

While Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) also manufactures EVMs for elections in India, this particular election will only use machines produced by ECIL.

A total of 1.75 lakh EVMs have been made available for Bihar, ensuring ample supply for the 243 assembly constituencies and thousands of polling stations across the state.

 Phased Testing of EVMs Underway with ECIL Engineers

To maintain the integrity and reliability of the electoral process, primary-level testing of EVMs is currently underway across districts. For this, engineers from ECIL are being dispatched in phases to Bihar districts, responding to specific requests from District Election Officers (DEOs).

This verification drive is expected to be completed by June 2025. District Magistrates, who also serve as District Election Officers, are supervising the entire process to ensure accountability and transparency.

Why Are Reserve EVMs Necessary? Understanding Their Role

In any major election, especially in a state like Bihar where polling spans multiple phases and terrains, technical errors in EVMs are not uncommon due to factors like transport, temperature, or mishandling.

To manage such eventualities:

• Reserve EVMs are stored at polling booths to allow immediate replacement

• These machines may also be used in mock polls — test runs conducted before actual polling

• If any unit fails during live polling, a standby EVM or VVPAT can be deployed within minutes

Such preparedness ensures that voter turnout is not disrupted and the credibility of the election process remains intact.

 VVPAT Units: Ensuring Voter Confidence and Transparency

The use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines is now mandatory in all elections in India. These devices provide a paper trail of each vote cast, enhancing transparency.

For the 2025 Bihar elections:

• 35% more VVPATs than required have been provided

• VVPATs will be integrated with every EVM setup

• In case of a dispute or technical issue, the VVPAT slips serve as a verifiable audit tool

By increasing the reserve count, the Election Commission is ensuring that technical failure does not compromise electoral transparency.

 EVM Usage Guidelines: More Than 15 Candidates Means Two EVMs

The ECI has clarified that in constituencies where more than 15 candidates are contesting, two EVMs will be used per polling station.

Each Ballot Unit has:

• 16 buttons in total

  • 15 for candidates

  • 1 for NOTA (None of the Above)

If the number of candidates exceeds 15, an additional EVM will be linked and configured accordingly.

Before the polls begin, election officials will conduct mock drills and explain EVM usage to representatives of recognized political parties to ensure there is no confusion or mistrust.

 Upcoming Bihar Election Timeline and Key Dates (Expected)

While the official dates for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 are yet to be announced, the preparatory steps indicate the election may be held between September and October 2025.

Key dates expected:

 Election Commission’s Mission: Free, Fair, and Foolproof Elections

The Election Commission has been focusing on:

• Technology-driven accountability

• Transparency at every polling station

• Real-time monitoring through control rooms

• Mobile app alerts for malfunctioning machines

The provision of reserve EVMs and VVPATs aligns with ECI’s broader vision of strengthening democratic processes through efficient, secure, and trusted elections.

 Public Awareness Campaigns to Follow

To ensure that voters are familiar with the EVM and VVPAT process:

• Voter awareness camps will be organized at local community centers

• EVM demonstration vans will tour rural and urban areas

• Short training videos will be distributed via WhatsApp and social media

• Volunteers will explain the function of the NOTA button and VVPAT slips

These efforts aim to reduce confusion and increase voter confidence, especially in areas with low digital literacy.

 Quick Facts: Bihar Election Preparations 2025

• 1.75 lakh EVMs made available by ECIL

• 25% extra BUs and CUs to be used as backups

• 35% extra VVPATs kept in reserve

• Testing of machines ongoing until June 2025

• Mock polls mandatory before actual voting

• Political party representatives will be briefed

With extensive preparations in place, the Election Commission of India is leaving no stone unturned in organizing a free, fair, and technologically robust election in Bihar.

The provision of additional EVMs and VVPATs, training sessions, public outreach, and machine testing schedules all point to a comprehensive strategy aimed at building voter trust and institutional accountability.

As Bihar gears up for one of its most closely watched elections, these measures are expected to enhance transparency, reduce technical delays, and ensure every vote counts.