Bihar additional chief electoral officer Kumar Anshumaly. Telegraph picture

Patna, Jan. 19: Elections in Bihar were held around three months ago. But one should not be surprised to see a large number of voters queuing up at polling stations in the state again on January 25.

This gathering would be a part of the National Voters’ Day celebrations that would be observed on January 25 this year onwards.

The Election Commission of India (EC) had taken a decision to this effect last year.

January 25 has been chosen as the date for the occasion, as it was on this day that the EC was formed to conduct elections in the country.

A number of programmes, including inviting voters to polling stations across the state and administering them an oath specially prepared for the day, would be organised in Bihar.

The essence of this oath deals with upholding democratic values, maintaining dignity of free and fair elections and also to take pride in being a voter.

Instructions had earlier been issued to districts apprising voters of the date so that they could come to the polling stations on the day. There are 45,900 polling stations in Bihar in which 56,943 polling booths of the state are located.

“The oath-taking ceremony would be held at all the 45,900 polling stations,” additional chief electoral officer of Bihar Kumar Anshumaly told The Telegraph.

One of the major attractions of this ceremony would be the distribution of electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) among the first-time voters.

“Information received from districts so far suggests that on an average, 5,000 to 6,000 such voters would get their photo identity cards in each of the 38 districts but the number may go up as the electoral roll revision work would be finalised on January 22 and efforts would be made to provide the cards to everyone who have become eligible to vote,” Anshumaly said.

Apart from the programmes to be held in districts, the main function would be held at the state headquarters. Details of these programmes are being worked out. Some top functionaries in the state are likely to take part in the programme to be held in Patna.

The state election commission has also made arrangements for web streaming of programmes to be organised in districts and the state headquarters.

“Arrangement for web streaming of these programmes have already been made and the feed of the streaming would also be provided to the EC headquarters in New Delhi,” said the additional chief electoral officer of Bihar.