Bihar on Saturday created history by becoming the first state in India to implement mobile phone-based e-voting during local body elections, according to State Election Commission officials.
State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said that 70.20% of eligible voters who had registered for the new system used the e-voting method, while 54.63% cast their votes through traditional polling booths. Overall, the voter turnout stood at 62.41%.
“Bihar has made history today. Bibha Kumari, a resident of Pakridayal in East Champaran district, became the first person in the country to cast a vote via mobile phone during a local body election,” the State Election Commission wrote in a post on social media platform X, calling the move “a symbol of convenience, security, and empowered participation.”
The polling took place across six nagar panchayats and multiple municipal bypolls, covering 489 booths. Voting was held from 7 AM to 5 PM and remained peaceful throughout the day. A total of 538 candidates contested in the elections.
The mobile phone-based e-voting system was introduced with the aim of boosting voter participation and making the process more inclusive. Officials said it was specifically designed for voters who face challenges in reaching polling stations, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and migrants.
Only pre-registered voters were allowed to use the e-voting platform, Prasad said. The districts where polling took place included Patna, Buxar, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Nalanda, Katihar, Araria, Saharsa, and East Champaran, among others.
Officials described the initiative as a significant step toward modernizing the electoral process and expanding access to democratic participation.
