Dek: On November 6, Bihar’s first phase surprised poll watchers: turnout jumped to about 64.6% after a major Special Intensive Revision of rolls. Parties read the numbers their way, but the real story is a mix of statistics, politics, and local lives — with the final answer arriving on the Bihar election result date, November 14.
Bihar Elections 2025 in 60 Seconds
- What happened: Phase 1 polling on November 6 saw a record turnout ~64.66% to 65.08% in 121 seats.
- Why it matters: Turnout figures shape narratives on anti-incumbency, pro-incumbency, and the health of democracy ahead of the Bihar election result on November 14.
- Big technical factor: The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) removed about 65 lakh names, changing the denominator for voting percentage.
- Next dates: Phase 2 voting is on November 11 and counting is on November 14, the Bihar election 2025 result date.
Bihar Elections 2025: Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Poll Phase | Phase 1: 121 Assembly seats (voted Nov 6). Phase 2: 122 seats (vote Nov 11). |
| Voter turnout (Phase 1) | Provisional ~64.66% to final 65.08% as reported by ECI/press. |
| SIR impact | About 6.5 million names deleted from draft rolls after SIR; list published booth wise. |
| Registered electors (comparison) | Registered electors trimmed from 3.88 crore in 2024 LS rolls to ~3.73 crore after SIR; actual voters in phase 1 rose in absolute numbers. |
| Result date | Counting of votes and Bihar election 2025 result date: November 14, 2025. |
What Happened – Bihar election 2025 voting percentage
On November 6, voters queued across 121 constituencies in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election. By day end the Election Commission called it a historic turnout in percentage terms: roughly 64.66% as initial official reports stated, and later updated figures from media gave an even higher 65.08% in some releases.
Political leaders immediately read the number into their preferred story. The NDA hailed it as a sign of pro-incumbency and support for welfare outreach in the run up to the Bihar election result. The Mahagathbandhan and others argued that the surge was anti-incumbency energy. Prashant Kishor and newer entrants described the turnout as evidence of a mood for change. This is familiar political theatre: when numbers shift, spin fills the air.
Why It Matters – why voter turnout in bihar matters
Turnout matters because percentages shape narratives. Higher voting percentage headlines create momentum, influence media coverage, and can nudge undecided voters. For poll strategists and analysts, the key question is whether the rise is a mobilisation story or a statistical artefact created by the SIR exercise that pruned the rolls.
Here are three big reasons this turnout is important now:
- Perception and momentum: Parties use turnout to make claims about a wave. A convincing narrative can shift media tone and local morale in the run up to the November 11 voting and the Bihar election result date on November 14.
- Democratic legitimacy: A high voters number in absolute terms is always healthy for democracy. If women and young voters were the main drivers, that changes how parties prioritise last-mile asks.
- Statistical caution: Because SIR deleted about 65 lakh names, turnout percentage rose partly because the denominator fell. That makes headline percentages less straightforward to interpret.
Did SIR and EPIC number cleanup change the voting percentage?
Short answer: yes, but how much is the analytic point. The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision was a large scale cleaning of rolls intended to remove duplicates, the dead, and shifted electors. The ECI published a booth wise list of roughly 6.5 million electors removed after the SIR exercise. When you remove many names from the roll, the voting percentage can mechanically increase even if absolute votes stay similar.
That is why experts call parts of the percentage bump a statistical artefact. But that does not fully explain the surge in actual voters in some constituencies where absolute ballots counted rose compared to the 2024 general election. In simple terms: SIR raised the percentage, and mobilisation raised the number of actual voters in places.
Impact on You – How the turnout and voting percentage could affect results
For voters, the immediate impacts are practical and political. Practically, awareness drives like voter helpline outreach and Jeevika Didis supporting women at polling booths likely increased women’s turnout and reduced on-the-day friction. Politically, the turnout shapes campaign messaging in the final phase before voting ends on November 11 and ahead of the Bihar election result date on November 14.
If you are tracking exit poll Bihar 2025 data or watching voting percentage district wise, remember:
- Voting percentage in Bihar today or in phase 1 is an input, not an outcome; phase 2 and final counting will decide seat math.
- Voter turnout trends by gender or age will tell us which demographics moved the needle once ECI publishes disaggregated data.
- Exit poll Bihar 2025 snapshots are indicative only; the EVMs and Form 20 on November 14 settle the final picture.
Samay’s Voice – A short note
Samay’s Voice: Numbers are mirrors not prophecies. 64.6% tells us Bihar decided to show up. Whether that was to reward the incumbent, punish it, or to demand a new experiment depends on where those bodies of votes sit inside constituencies. On November 14 the EVMs will answer. Until then, keep reading the facts and not just the spin.
Street FAQs – voters, EPIC number, ECI, voting time and result date
Q: When is the Bihar election result date?
A: The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on November 14, 2025.
Q: What was the Phase 1 voter turnout percentage?
A: The provisional voter turnout for Phase 1, covering 121 seats, was between 64.66% and 65.08%.
Q: What is an EPIC number and how can I check it?
A: The EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number is your unique voter identification number. You can check your EPIC details through the ECI Voter Services Portal or your State Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) website. Booth-wise deletion and correction lists are also available online.
Q: Where can I find the voter helpline number or polling time in Bihar?
A: The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar publish official helpline numbers, polling station details, and voting timings on their portals and through press releases before each phase of voting.
Q: Do exit polls predict the Bihar election result?
A: Exit polls provide an early indication of voter sentiment, but they are not final results. The official Bihar election results will be announced after vote counting on November 14, 2025.
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Sources
- Press Information Bureau and ECI press note on Phase 1 turnout.
- Times of India coverage on 65.08% final turnout updates.
- Election Commission publication on SIR and booth wise deletions.
- India Today, Hindustan Times and national coverage of Bihar election dates and schedule.
- Al Jazeera background explainer on Bihar elections and stakes.
