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Introduction

Frequent elections in India strain governance and public resources, prompting bodies like the Election Commission of India and Law Commission of India to recommend electoral reforms, including the idea of “One Nation, One Election”.

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Need for Electoral Reforms

• High Costs: Conducting elections multiple times leads to diversion of resources away from development priorities.
  Eg: 2019 Lok Sabha elections reportedly cost over ₹60,000 crore.
• Governance Disruption: Frequent imposition of Model Code of Conduct interrupts decision-making and delays implementation of welfare schemes.
  Eg: Infrastructure and welfare projects often paused during State election periods.
• Policy Populism: Governments tend to prioritise short-term electoral gains through populist announcements instead of pursuing long-term structural reforms.
  Eg: Farm loan waivers and freebie schemes before elections.
• Administrative Strain: Repeated deployment of officials, teachers, and security forces affects routine administration and public service delivery.
• Voter Fatigue: Frequent elections may reduce voter interest and participation, especially in smaller State or local polls.
  Eg: Lower turnout observed in some State elections compared to national elections.

Merits of One Nation, One Election

• Cost Efficiency: Simultaneous elections can significantly reduce expenditure on logistics, security, and campaign financing.
• Policy Continuity: With fewer interruptions due to Model Code of Conduct, governments can ensure smoother implementation of policies.
  Eg: Continuous execution of schemes like infrastructure development programmes.
• Governance Focus: Leaders can focus more on governance rather than being in constant election mode.
  Eg: More time for policy planning and institutional reforms.
• Higher Turnout: Combining elections may encourage greater voter participation as seen in national elections.
• Administrative Ease: Reduces repeated pressure on administrative machinery and security forces due to single deployment of election staff and forces.

Challenges of One Nation, One Election

• Federal Concerns: Synchronisation may undermine the autonomy of States, which operate under different political timelines.
• Constitutional Changes: Implementing the idea requires significant amendments to constitutional provisions governing tenure and dissolution.
  Eg: Changes needed in Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174.
• Premature Dissolution: If a government falls before its term ends, maintaining synchronisation becomes difficult.
  Eg: Hung assemblies or no-confidence motions disrupt fixed timelines.
• Regional Issues: National-level campaigning may overshadow local issues and reduce attention to State-specific concerns.
• Logistical Complexity: Conducting elections across the country simultaneously requires massive resources and coordination.
  Eg: Large-scale requirement of EVMs, personnel, and security arrangements.

Conclusion

While “One Nation, One Election” offers efficiency and stability, its success depends on balancing administrative gains with federal values. Electoral reforms must be carefully designed to preserve democratic diversity while enhancing governance effectiveness.

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