Were There Any Requests for EVM Burnt-Memory Verification in Bihar Elections?
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Synopsis
The Election Commission of India revealed that no candidates requested verification of EVMs' burnt memory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. This absence of verification requests raises questions about electoral transparency and the efficacy of the verification process.
Key Takeaways
- No requests for EVM verification were made by losing candidates.
- Verification provisions are in place as per the Supreme Court’s direction.
- Mandatory verification of VVPAT slips showed no discrepancies.
- Zero appeals regarding electoral roll issues were reported.
- Index Cards were released within 72 hours of results for the first time.
New Delhi, Nov 27 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday that it received no requests from losing candidates concerning the verification of the burnt memory or microcontroller of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the recently held 2025 Bihar Assembly elections and related bye-elections across eight states.
The Commission emphasized that, in spite of the provisions that allow such checks, no candidate from any of the 243 Assembly constituencies in Bihar or the eight seats that underwent bypolls requested verification.
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives, the ECI had released a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on June 17, 2025, which permits candidates who finished in the second or third positions to apply for post-count verification of EVMs within seven days following the announcement of results.
“The Election Commission of India has achieved several milestones with the successful execution of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, 2025,” stated the ECI in its press release.
“Mandatory verification of VVPAT slips was conducted for five randomly selected polling stations per Assembly constituency (totaling 1,215 polling stations), and no discrepancies were identified in the EVM counts,” it added.
Additionally, the ECI pointed out that there were zero appeals regarding the wrongful inclusion or exclusion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across all 38 districts.
“No re-polls were requested by any of the 2,616 candidates or by any of the 12 recognized political parties,” it noted.
Moreover, it was highlighted that, for the first time, Index Cards for the Bihar elections and bye-elections in eight Assembly Constituencies were made available within 72 hours of the announcement of the poll results.
Statistical reports pertaining to the elections were also uploaded to the public domain free of cost within five days, offering researchers, academics, and the general public swift access to comprehensive poll data.
Point of View
It is essential to acknowledge that the absence of verification requests from candidates in such a crucial election raises serious questions about the electoral process. The ECI's efforts for transparency must be complemented by active participation from candidates, ensuring that democracy remains robust and trustworthy.
NationPress
27/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did no candidates request EVM verification?
The Election Commission stated that despite the provisions for requests, none of the candidates from the Bihar Assembly elections sought verification of the burnt memory of EVMs.
What are the implications of not requesting EVM verification?
The lack of verification requests may raise concerns about the perceived integrity of the electoral process, highlighting the need for candidates to actively engage in ensuring transparency.
