90,000 Anganwadi Workers to Verify Burqa-Clad Voters in Bihar Elections
Anganwadi workers to help verify burqa-clad women voters in Bihar with dignity and privacy.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced special measures to facilitate the “dignified” identification of women voters wearing burqas or purdah during the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025. To ensure inclusivity and privacy, the ECI will deploy up to 90,712 Anganwadi Sevikas across all polling stations in the state to assist in verifying the identities of these voters. This initiative, announced on October 10, 2025, underscores the commission’s commitment to encouraging participation among ‘purdanasheen’ women while adhering to strict electoral guidelines.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a press conference in New Delhi on October 6, 2025, emphasized that Anganwadi workers will be stationed at every polling booth in Bihar to support the verification process. The ECI’s guidelines mandate that identity checks for burqa-clad women be conducted by female polling officers or attendants in a private setting to maintain dignity and respect. Kumar reiterated that these protocols are well-established and will be strictly enforced to ensure a fair and transparent voting process across the state’s 243 assembly constituencies.
The decision follows concerns raised by political figures, including Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal, who on October 4 urged the ECI to ensure that the faces of women voters in burqas are cross-checked with voter ID cards. The commission’s response aims to balance electoral integrity with cultural sensitivity, addressing potential challenges in voter identification while fostering an inclusive environment. The deployment of Anganwadi workers, announced on October 9, is a strategic move to leverage their community presence and experience to facilitate smooth operations at polling stations.
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The Bihar elections, set to be conducted in two phases, are a critical democratic exercise, with vote counting scheduled for November 14, 2025. The ECI’s proactive measures reflect its broader goal of maximizing voter turnout, particularly among women, in a state where cultural practices like purdah are prevalent. By integrating Anganwadi workers into the electoral process, the commission aims to uphold both security and respect for voters’ privacy, ensuring that no woman is deterred from exercising her democratic right due to identification concerns.
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