Gen Z Voters Emerge as Critical Demographic in Bihar's Nawada Elections Following Electoral Roll Revision

Gen Z voters are poised to significantly influence the election outcome in Bihar's Nawada district.

Following the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission (EC), a total of 95,959 voters have been removed from the final electoral list in Bihar's Nawada district. Simultaneously, the EC has added 30,491 new voters to this crucial battleground region, where all competing alliances are eager to secure victory.

The updated voter list, released by District Magistrate and Election Officer Ravi Prakash as part of the SIR exercise, indicates that young voters, particularly Gen Z, will emerge as the most influential demographic in the upcoming assembly elections across all Nawada constituencies.

Out of the total 17.16 lakh voters in Nawada, 3.64 lakh are Gen Z voters aged between 18 and 30 years. Most of these individuals will be participating in the electoral process for the first time. Political analysts observe that these young voters' perspectives and decisions are more readily influenced by social media platforms, internet content, and contemporary issues.

While traditional voting blocs have historically determined election outcomes, the emergence of a substantial Gen Z voter population presents both challenges and opportunities for candidates contesting in Nawada.

Gen Z voters demonstrate greater concern for development initiatives, employment opportunities, educational advancement, and digital infrastructure. Their active participation on social media platforms can significantly enhance or damage a candidate's public image.

District Election Officer Ravi Prakash stated that the SIR exercise commenced on June 25. The preliminary list published on August 1 removed approximately 1.26 lakh voters, including deceased individuals, those who relocated to other states, and citizens with duplicate voter identification cards.

According to the August 1 data, 52,286 voters had passed away, 45,258 had moved to different locations, and 9,439 voters could not be located. Concurrently, 19,467 new voters were added to the electoral roll.

The process for claims, objections, and appeals continued until September 1, resulting in 95,959 names being excluded from the final electoral list for Nawada district.

Data from January 2025 reveals that Nawada had 17.94 lakh voters, comprising 9.33 lakh male and 8.60 lakh female voters. Before the SIR exercise began, the voter count in Nawada had increased to 18.12 lakh, with 9.42 lakh male and 8.69 lakh female voters.

This data demonstrates that the 36-day SIR exercise ultimately removed 1.26 lakh voters from Nawada's electoral rolls.