One Nation, One Election: Issues, Challenges, and Way Forward

One Nation, One Election refers to the proposal of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (national parliament) and all state assemblies. The idea is aimed at synchronizing elections to reduce the frequency of elections and the associated costs, both financial and administrative.

 Advantages of One Nation, One Election:

1. Cost Savings:
   • A key advantage is the reduction in election-related costs. Conducting elections separately for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies leads to repeated expenditure on logistics, security, personnel, and election infrastructure. Holding elections simultaneously could save the exchequer significant funds.
2. Less Frequent Election Disruptions:
   • Frequent elections cause governance and administrative disruptions. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into play every time an election is announced, which restricts the government from launching new schemes or initiatives. One election cycle would reduce the number of times the MCC is enforced, allowing governments to focus on governance without regular interruptions.
3. Improved Governance and Policy Continuity:
   • By holding elections simultaneously, governments at the central and state levels can focus on long-term policy-making and implementation without constantly being in campaign mode. This could lead to better governance and stability as decision-making is not influenced by the electoral cycle.
4. Reduced Political Instability:
   • Simultaneous elections reduce the frequency of elections, leading to fewer changes in governments at both the central and state levels. This stability can attract more investments and boost economic confidence, as governance remains more predictable.
5. Boost in Voter Participation:
   • Simultaneous elections might encourage more voter turnout by simplifying the process. Citizens would be able to vote for both state and national representatives at the same time, reducing voter fatigue and enhancing democratic participation.
6. Efficient Use of Security and Resources:
   • Currently, elections require the mobilization of a large number of security personnel and resources. With elections spread throughout the year, security forces are frequently engaged in election duty, diverting them from other essential tasks. Simultaneous elections would optimize the use of these resources.
7. Strengthening of Cooperative Federalism:
   • Holding elections simultaneously might encourage cooperation between the central and state governments as they would have a synchronized timeline to implement policies. It would also ensure that governments at both levels work in tandem, preventing frequent electoral clashes that lead to confrontational politics.
8. Reduced Politicization and Populism:
   • Frequent elections often lead to short-term populist measures and political appeasement, as parties try to win over voters. With simultaneous elections, governments could focus more on delivering sustained, long-term policies rather than election-centric, populist promises.
9. Consolidated Election Management:
   • From an administrative perspective, it simplifies the management of elections. Electoral processes (like voter registration, updating electoral rolls, training of personnel, etc.) would be consolidated and streamlined, making the electoral process more efficient.
10. Reduced Impact of Regional/National Issues Overlap:

• Simultaneous elections might reduce the mismatch between regional and national issues. Often, in staggered elections, regional elections become a referendum on national issues and vice versa. Simultaneous elections might ensure a clear distinction between regional and national issues, helping voters make more focused decisions.

Issues and Challenges:

1. Constitutional Challenges:
   • Article 83 and 172 of the Indian Constitution provide for different terms for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. Aligning these terms requires significant constitutional amendments.
   • Premature Dissolution: If a government loses a majority in the Lok Sabha or any state assembly before the completion of its term, conducting fresh elections only for that body might disrupt the simultaneous election schedule.
2. Logistical and Administrative Burden:
   • Holding elections across India in one go involves enormous logistical challenges, including deploying election personnel, ensuring security, and managing a large number of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs.
3. Regional Autonomy:
   • Simultaneous elections could weaken the federal structure by overshadowing regional issues. State-specific concerns might get lost amidst national election narratives.
   • Different states may face distinct political cycles and issues. Aligning all elections might dilute the local focus, giving an edge to national parties.
4. Impact on Governance:
   • Frequent elections keep the government accountable, ensuring periodic checks on its performance. Holding simultaneous elections might reduce the regular pressure on the government to deliver.
   • Governments may lose flexibility in timing elections to suit their political interests, creating challenges for handling coalitions or political instability.
5. Financial Costs:
   • While reducing the frequency of elections might save some costs, the expenditure to implement the infrastructure for simultaneous elections (such as purchasing more EVMs and VVPATs) is substantial.
6. Voter Fatigue:
   • There is a concern that simultaneous elections might lead to voter fatigue, where voters may not differentiate between national and state issues and simply vote along party lines, leading to a uniform electoral outcome.

What the Election Commission, Law Commission, and Supreme Court Say

1. Election Commission of India (ECI):
   • The ECI has highlighted the logistical challenges of implementing simultaneous elections, including the need for double the number of EVMs and VVPATs and ensuring their maintenance and storage.
   • While the ECI has shown openness to the idea, it has emphasized that the implementation of this proposal requires broad political consensus and significant legislative and constitutional changes.
2. Law Commission:
   • The Law Commission of India (170th Report, 1999) supported the idea of simultaneous elections, proposing the amendment of constitutional provisions to reduce the frequency of elections.
   • The 79th Report of the Law Commission (2018) suggested that it could be possible to conduct simultaneous elections in phases. It proposed amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, and 356 to synchronize elections.
3. Supreme Court of India:
   • The Supreme Court has not yet issued a definitive ruling on the feasibility of One Nation, One Election. However, it has stated that such a significant shift would require political consensus and constitutional amendments.
   • The Court has emphasized the need to ensure that the democratic process remains fair, with no infringement on voters’ rights or regional interests.

Way Forward:

1. Building Political Consensus:
   • A broad political consensus involving all major political parties is essential for the successful implementation of One Nation, One Election. Discussions need to focus on how regional concerns can be addressed in a simultaneous election system.
2. Constitutional and Legal Reforms:
   • Necessary amendments to the Constitution (Articles 83, 172, 85, etc.) would be required to align the terms of both state assemblies and the Lok Sabha. Additionally, laws governing elections would need to be revamped to handle cases of premature dissolution.
3. Phased Implementation:
   • As suggested by the Law Commission, the implementation of simultaneous elections could begin in phases, starting with some states and then gradually aligning all state elections with the national election cycle.
4. Strengthening Election Infrastructure:
   • A significant upgrade of electoral infrastructure (EVMs, personnel, security, etc.) will be needed to handle the simultaneous election process smoothly. This includes creating a larger pool of election machinery and personnel to manage the voting process nationwide.
5. Mechanism for Mid-Term Dissolution:
   • A clear mechanism should be established for handling mid-term dissolutions, including provisions for caretaker governments and predetermined election cycles in case of political instability.
6. Pilot Projects:
   • Conducting pilot projects for simultaneous elections in select regions could provide valuable insights into the practical challenges and help refine the approach before a nationwide rollout.

In conclusion, while the idea of One Nation, One Election presents potential benefits in terms of cost-saving and governance stability, it faces substantial political, constitutional, and logistical challenges. A phased approach, backed by legal reforms and political consensus, appears to be the most pragmatic way forward.