One nation one election

One nation one election

Context:

The Union Cabinet, approved the proposal to conduct simultaneous elections in the country. The proposal was given by the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Relevance:
GS-02 (Polity)

What is simultaneous elections?

• It is popularly known as one nation one election.
• Simultaneous elections is when elections are conducted together for Lok Sabha, all the State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies(Panchayats and Municipalities).
• In simple terms, a voter can cast his vote for electing the members across various levels on a single day at the same time.

 

Key Proposals from the Committee on Simultaneous Elections

• Constitutional Amendments:
  • Two bills are recommended for amending the Constitution.
    • Bill 1: Introduces simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies without needing state ratification.
    • Bill 2: Aligns elections for municipalities and panchayats with Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections within 100 days, requiring ratification by at least half of the states.
• Key Constitutional Changes:
  • Article 82A: A new article for establishing the process of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
  • Article 83 & 172: Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will serve their remaining term after a new election until simultaneous elections occur.
  • Article 324A: Grants Parliament authority to legislate the simultaneous election of municipalities and panchayats with state and national elections.
• Single Electoral Roll:
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI), in coordination with State Election Commissions, will create a unified electoral roll and voter ID for all election tiers.
• Handling Hung Assemblies or Premature Dissolution:
  • In case of a hung House or premature dissolution, elections will be held to fill the position for the remaining term.
• Logistics and Planning:
  • The Election Commission will collaborate with State Election Commissions to ensure the availability of necessary resources, such as polling personnel and security, ahead of simultaneous elections.
• Election Cycle Synchronisation:
  • A new electoral cycle will be initiated through a notification by the President, marking an “Appointed Date” for synchronised elections. All state assemblies will align with the Lok Sabha’s five-year term, regardless of their individual terms.

Way forward:

• Having simultaneous elections is not completely bad. However, the advantage of holding separate elections for each level of government ensures that local, state, and national issues receive the attention they deserve. It also allows voters to choose representatives based on specific regional or local needs.
• The Union government should also ensure that any electoral reform respects India’s federal structure