One Nation, One Election
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: NIE
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved two bills, including a constitutional amendment, to implement the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) policy.
About One Nation, One Election:
• What It Is: A policy to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies to reduce the frequency of elections, streamline governance, and minimize electoral expenditure.
• Articles Involved: Proposed amendments to Articles 82A, 83(2), and 327, including the addition of Article 324A, to facilitate synchronized elections.
• Ramnath Kovind Committee: Formed in September 2023, the committee evaluated the feasibility of ONOE and submitted a detailed 18,626-page report after extensive stakeholder consultations.
• Key Recommendations by the Kovind Panel on One Nation, One Election: Legal Mechanism: Develop a legally-tenable framework to implement synchronized elections. First Stage: Conduct simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies. Second Stage: Synchronize municipal and panchayat elections with Lok Sabha and state assembly polls within 100 days. Appointed Date: President to notify the date of the first Lok Sabha session post-general elections for synchronization. Transitory Measure: State assembly tenures post “appointed date” to end with the next Lok Sabha polls; synchronization ensured thereafter. Fresh Lok Sabha Elections: Held in case of a hung House or no-confidence motion, with tenure limited to the remaining term. Fresh State Assembly Elections: New assemblies to serve until the next Lok Sabha term ends. Single Electoral Roll: Unified voter roll and EPIC cards managed by the Election Commission and state commissions. Logistical Preparations: ECI to plan for sufficient equipment (EVMs, VVPATs), personnel deployment, and security measures. Infrastructure Readiness: Advance preparation by ECI to ensure smooth execution of simultaneous elections.
• Legal Mechanism: Develop a legally-tenable framework to implement synchronized elections.
• First Stage: Conduct simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies.
• Second Stage: Synchronize municipal and panchayat elections with Lok Sabha and state assembly polls within 100 days.
• Appointed Date: President to notify the date of the first Lok Sabha session post-general elections for synchronization.
• Transitory Measure: State assembly tenures post “appointed date” to end with the next Lok Sabha polls; synchronization ensured thereafter.
• Fresh Lok Sabha Elections: Held in case of a hung House or no-confidence motion, with tenure limited to the remaining term.
• Fresh State Assembly Elections: New assemblies to serve until the next Lok Sabha term ends.
• Single Electoral Roll: Unified voter roll and EPIC cards managed by the Election Commission and state commissions.
• Logistical Preparations: ECI to plan for sufficient equipment (EVMs, VVPATs), personnel deployment, and security measures.
• Infrastructure Readiness: Advance preparation by ECI to ensure smooth execution of simultaneous elections.
Insta links:
• High-level-committee-report-on-one-nation-one-election