Union Cabinet approved Simultaneous Election Plan

Source- This post on Union Cabinet approved Simultaneous Election Plan  is based on the article “Simultaneous polls plan gets Union Cabinet approval” published in The Hindu on 19th September 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee that had proposed simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as the first step, and municipal and panchayat polls within 100 days of the general election in the next phase.

About Simultaneous Election

Simultaneous Election refers to the concept of holding elections to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament) and the State Legislative Assemblies across all states and Union Territories at the same time.

Key Features of Simultaneous Elections:

1. Single Election Cycle: Both the general election (for the Lok Sabha) and state assembly elections would be held together, ideally once every five years, reducing the frequency of elections.

2. Synchronized Terms: The idea is to synchronize the terms of the Parliament and all State Assemblies, so they can complete their five-year tenures concurrently, after which elections would be held simultaneously.

3. Phased Voting: Although elections would be held simultaneously, voting could be conducted in phases across different regions, depending on logistical and security needs.

Challenges to Simultaneous Elections:

1. Constitutional Amendments: Multiple amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174, along with state consensus, would be needed.

2. Premature Dissolution: Political instability can lead to unsynchronized dissolutions of state assemblies or the Lok Sabha.

3. State vs. National Issues: Simultaneous elections could blur the focus between state and national concerns.

4. Logistical Hurdles: Conducting elections across India’s vast and diverse landscape poses significant logistical challenges in terms of voter management, security, and personnel.

Kovind Panel Recommendations

1. Appointed Date for Electoral Synchronization: The Kovind panel suggested synchronizing elections by setting an ‘Appointed Date’ at the beginning of the Lok Sabha’s term. State Assemblies formed between elections would end their terms to align with the Lok Sabha elections.

2. Constitutional Amendments: The proposal includes 18 constitutional amendments, including changes to Article 83 (duration of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of State legislatures).

3. Common Electoral Roll: The recommendation involves a common electoral roll for all levels of government, which would require coordination between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SECs).

Read more: Kovind Panel Report on Simultaneous Elections

UPSC Syllabus: Polity and nation