One Nation, One Election

 One Nation, One Election

Election Day in India is a vibrant display of democracy, public opinion, and chaos. Over the years, many suggestions have been made to improve the election process, but none have been successfully implemented. One idea that has been debated for a long time is the concept of simultaneous elections, also known as "One Nation, One Election.

The Indian government is considering this proposal to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) and all State Assemblies. The goal is to conduct these elections simultaneously, either on a single day or within a fixed time frame.

Historical Background

The concept of "One Nation, One Election" is not new to (in) India. It was the norm (standard practice) until 1967. However, the system was disrupted due to the premature dissolution of some state assemblies in 1968 and 1969, making simultaneous elections a thing of the past (, leading to separate elections) ( .As a result, simultaneous elections were no longer the norm.)

The idea resurfaced when the Union government, on September 1, 2023, formed a committee headed (led) by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore (examine) the feasibility of implementing "One Nation, One Election."

Need for One Nation, One Election (ONOE)

Keeping the past in mind, the committee recommends ONOE for several reasons cited below

Cost Savings:
Elections are held frequently in different states, leading to massive expenses for the Election Commission of India (ECI). Simultaneous elections would reduce these costs by optimizing resource allocation.

Better State Finances: Frequent elections strain state budgets. ‘ONOE’ would help stabilize state finances.

Administrative Efficiency: Conducting all elections together would ease the burden on administrative systems (staff) and security forces, allowing better use of resources.

Timely Policy Implementation:
Frequent elections disrupt governance, delaying policy decisions and implementation. Synchronized elections would allow governments to focus on governance without interruptions.

Focus on Development Activities:
With fewer election cycles, governments could prioritize  (can concentrate) development projects (on infrastructure), social welfare programs, and other critical initiatives over (instead of) campaigning.

Promotion of Administrative Reforms:
The stability provided by simultaneous elections ( 'ONOE') offers a conducive environment for implementing long-term administrative and policy reforms.

Less Disruption to Public Life: Frequent elections lead to disruption of normal public life and impact the functioning of essential services. Political rallies during elections cause traffic problems and noise pollution. Simultaneous elections would limit such disturbances to a fixed period. Such kind of disruptions would be limited only to a certain period if elections are held simultaneously.

(Frequent elections disrupt daily life, causing traffic issues, noise pollution, and interruptions in essential services. Simultaneous elections would limit these disruptions to a specific period.)

Continuity in Policy Decisions: The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) halts policy decisions during elections, delaying governance. ONOE would prevent such interruptions.

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect during elections, delaying (halting) new policy decisions and derailing ongoing projects. Simultaneous elections (ONOE) would minimize these delays (prevent such interruptions).

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into play just after the elections are announced by the Election Commission (EC). No new policy decisions are taken during elections due to the MCC. Therefore, key policy decisions get delayed both at the Centre and in the states and local bodies. Even when no fresh policy decision is necessary, implementation of ongoing projects gets derailed during election periods as the political executive as well as government officials would be engaged with election duties

Reduced Deployment of Security Forces:
A large number of police personnel and paramilitary forces are deployed (engaged) during elections to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully, diverting them from their regular duties. Simultaneous elections would reduce this burden. (Such deployment can be reduced with simultaneous elections.)

Challenges in Holding Simultaneous Elections

While the idea has many potential benefits, there are significant challenges to its implementation:

Despite its advantages, ONOE faces several challenges:

Lack of Manpower: Deploying security forces and officials at over ( across more than) 700,000 polling stations across diverse geographical conditions simultaneously is a major challenge.

Democratic Concerns: Critics suggest that forcing simultaneous elections is against democracy because India is a multi-party democracy where elections are held for State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha separately. 

Different Election Agendas:
State and national elections often focus on different issues. Simultaneous elections could blur these distinctions , affecting voter choices (, influencing voter behavior in unintended ways.)

Impact on Voter Behavior: Some argue that ONOE could favor national parties, leading to regional parties losing influence

(Voters might prioritize national issues over state concerns, potentially favoring larger national parties and marginalizing regional parties.)

Constitutional Hurdles: Articles 83(2) and 172 state that Lok Sabha and State Assemblies have a five-year term unless dissolved earlier. Implementing ONOE would require constitutional amendments.

(The Constitution mandates a five-year term for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, but assemblies can be dissolved earlier under certain circumstances,)

Contradiction with Federalism:
India is a "Union of States," and implementing simultaneous elections could centralize electoral processes, undermining state autonomy.

Regional Interests at Risk: ONOE could overshadow state-specific concerns, reducing accountability and marginalizing local priorities.

High Implementation Costs: The Election Commission estimates that implementing ONOE would require Rs 9,284.15 crore for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other expenses. Simultaneous elections would require significant investment in infrastructure, such as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), along with storage and maintenance costs.

Reduced Accountability:
Frequent elections keep politicians accountable to voters. Reducing election frequency could lessen (might reduce) this accountability.

Economic Impact:
Elections create jobs and boost the economy at the grassroots level. Fewer elections might reduce these economic benefits.

Way Forward

Implementing "One Nation, One Election" could reshape India's democratic and federal structure. To move forward, India should consider the following steps:

To implement ONOE, India should:

• Build consensus among political parties and states through discussions (dialogue) and consultations.

• Amend the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act 1951, and legislative rules ( the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies)to enable simultaneous elections. 

• Invest in necessary infrastructure like EVMs, VVPAT machines, polling booths, and security arrangements required for conducting simultaneous elections.

• Adjust electoral cycles of ( the terms of the ) Lok Sabha and State Assemblies through a one-time constitutional amendment.

• It should establish a legal framework to deal with situations such as no-confidence motions, premature dissolution of assemblies, hung parliaments, etc., that may arise during simultaneous elections.

• India should create awareness among the voters about the benefits and challenges of simultaneous elections, ensuring that they are able to exercise their franchise (cast their vote) without confusion or inconvenience.

• 
  

While the idea of "One Nation, One Election" is theoretically appealing (very attractive), it faces significant practical challenges. Implementing it would require constitutional amendments and careful planning to ensure it does not harm the principles of democracy and federalism. If successfully implemented, India, as the world's largest democracy, could set a unique example for other nations. However, the process must be handled thoughtfully to preserve the integrity of India's democratic and federal structure.

(If successfully implemented, ONOE would be a groundbreaking reform, setting a global example in electoral management.)