Bihar Elections 2024: Police Deploy Horses and Boats for Patrolling Remote Polling Stations

In preparation for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, police will deploy horses for patrolling 250 polling booths located in the Diara region, while boat patrols will be utilized to access approximately 197 polling stations, according to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's Monday announcement.

During a press conference revealing the Bihar assembly polls schedule, Kumar disclosed that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will now feature color photographs of candidates on ballot papers, enhancing voter recognition.

"Police will conduct patrolling using horses at around 250 polling stations in the Diara region. Additionally, polling teams will travel by boat to reach 197 polling stations," Kumar stated.

The electoral commission will establish a total of 90,712 polling booths across Bihar for the elections, serving over 7.42 crore eligible voters.

This represents an upgrade from the previous system used since 2015, where EVMs displayed only black and white candidate photos, which many voters found challenging to identify.

Kumar also mentioned, "The serial number will be displayed more prominently on the machines," further improving the voting experience.

The elections for Bihar's 243 assembly constituencies will proceed in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.