The recently concluded Bihar assembly elections saw the lowest voter turnout in the past two decades, with only 56.91% of the eligible voters casting their ballots. This is a significant decline from the 58.92% turnout recorded in the 2015 assembly elections. According to the Election Commission of India, the low turnout was attributed to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of enthusiasm among voters. The elections, which were held in three phases, saw the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging as the winner, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) winning 74 and 43 seats, respectively.

The opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), won 110 seats. The low voter turnout has raised concerns about the health of democracy in the state, with many analysts attributing it to the lack of effective campaigning by the political parties. The elections also saw the use of new technologies, including virtual rallies and social media campaigns, which were used to reach out to voters.

However, these efforts seemed to have had little impact on the voter turnout. The Election Commission has announced that it will conduct a thorough analysis of the factors contributing to the low turnout and take measures to improve voter participation in future elections. The Bihar assembly elections have also highlighted the need for electoral reforms, including the introduction of compulsory voting and the use of technology to improve voter engagement. With the electorate becoming increasingly disillusioned with the political process, it is essential for the political parties and the Election Commission to work together to restore the faith of the people in the democratic system.