New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has conducted a comprehensive online training and assessment programme for Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) ahead of the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections and bye-elections, as per an official release.
The two-day programme, held on October 9 and 10, included an online assessment and a doubt-clearing session focused on the nomination process and other key aspects of election management.
A total of 243 ROs and 1,418 AROs participated virtually in the training. Under Section 21 read with Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an RO is designated for each constituency to ensure that elections are conducted in accordance with law and the rules made thereunder.
According to the EC statement, the ROs and AROs are subject to the control, superintendence, and discipline of the Commission during the prescribed period.
The online assessment and doubt-clearing sessions will subsequently cover all phases of election conduct, including the nomination process, qualification and disqualification, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), withdrawal of candidature, symbol allotment, poll-day arrangements, and counting.
National-level master trainers will clarify any doubts the ROs and AROs may have, ensuring they are well-prepared for the smooth conduct of the elections.
ECI conducts Online Assessment and Doubt-Clearing Session for ROs and AROs
✅ Briefs DEOs and ROs on Presiding Officer Module of ECINet
Read more: https://t.co/wUFc4Qw2IH pic.twitter.com/8BtAnYijgW
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 10, 2025
ECI also conducted an online briefing session for the CEO, all DEOs and ROs on the Presiding Officer module of ECINET, which is under progressive implementation. Through this module, the Presiding Officers will upload voter turnout data on the ECINet App on a two-hourly basis and at the close of polls. The data will be automatically compiled at the RO level, allowing for near-real-time, approximate voting trends to be available.
ECI will also organise a trial run of the Presiding Officers application at all Polling Stations before the poll. The sessions are in addition to the training sessions being organised by the concerned Chief Electoral Officers in their respective States/UTs.
No appeals received for addition or deletion in electoral roll
Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar on October 10 informed that during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Campaign, 2025 in the state, no appeals were received by the District Magistrate regarding the addition or deletion of names in the electoral roll by the Electoral Registration Officer in all 243 Assembly Constituencies.
In a post on X, the CEO shared, “During the Special Intensive Revision Campaign, 2025 in the state of Bihar, no appeals have been received by the District Magistrate under Section 24(A) of the Representation of the People Act regarding the addition or deletion of names in the electoral roll by the Electoral Registration Officer in all 243 Assembly Constituencies until October 09, 2025.”
The Chief Electoral Officer informed that in all the 38 districts of Bihar, no appeals were made by the District Magistrate.
Earlier, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bihar State Legal Service Authority (BSLSA) to issue directions to its district-level body for assisting voters excluded from the final electoral rolls after the Bihar SIR exercise in filing appeals with the ECI.
The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the poll panel’s move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The Commission had earlier informed the Supreme Court that the final electoral list in the recently concluded SIR in Bihar has been notified, and most of the names added to the final list are of new voters and few old voters.
[With inputs from ANI]
