Muslim women voters demonstrated remarkable participation in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday, achieving a turnout increase of over 30% in several districts compared to the 2020 polls. This notable rise is directly linked to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which raised concerns about potential deletion of names for those residing outside the state. As a result, thousands of women traveled back to Bihar from various parts of the country to verify their voter status and exercise their franchise, ensuring their continued inclusion in the democratic process.

In Hajipur, election officials documented a more than 30% increase in female voter turnout within Muslim-majority constituencies, reflecting a broader pattern observed across Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, and parts of Patna. Women from migrant-heavy households, where male members are often employed in distant urban centers, took primary responsibility for maintaining electoral registration. Many submitted applications to delete their names from voter lists in states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi, thereby retaining their official residency and voting rights in Bihar.

Sabina Khatoon, a 45-year-old resident of Phulwarisharif in Patna, returned from Nashik in Maharashtra along with her mother-in-law Rubia, aged 57, and daughter Baby, 20, to cast her vote. She reported that over two dozen women from her neighborhood made similar journeys from Gujarat, Kolkata, and Mumbai, driven by awareness campaigns during the SIR process. Social activist Md Naqib from Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur highlighted that rural women not only secured their voting rights but also used the opportunity to obtain critical identity documents, including birth certificates for their children, enhancing long-term civic engagement.

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Sofia, a homemaker originally from Patna but living in Kolkata, incurred travel expenses of ₹10,000 to return with her family and participate in the election. This determination was particularly evident in districts characterized by high male out-migration, where women emerged as the primary defenders of household voting rights. Booth-level officers confirmed the validity of all documentation presented by returning voters, ensuring no instances of duplication and maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll.

The SIR exercise, despite facing criticism from opposition parties over alleged discrepancies, has inadvertently strengthened democratic awareness among minority and migrant communities. With the second and final phase of polling scheduled for November 11 and counting set for November 14, the heightened participation of women signals a transformative shift in electoral dynamics, reinforcing the foundational role of inclusive voter mobilization in shaping Bihar’s political future.

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