Published on: March 14, 2024

SIMELTANEOUS ELECTIONS

SIMELTANEOUS ELECTIONS

NEWS – High level committee on Simultaneous elections in India headed by Ramnath Kovind has submitted its report

WHAT HAS THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED

  1. Amendment to the Constitution for Simultaneous Elections:
    • Proposes a two-step amendment process for enabling simultaneous elections.
    • First step involves simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies without requiring state ratification.
    • Second step involves synchronizing elections for municipalities and panchayats with Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections; ie; conducting the elections within 100 days of main election , requiring ratification by at least half of the states.
  2. Single Electoral Roll and Election ID:
    • Suggests amending the Constitution to facilitate the preparation of a single electoral roll and election photo identity cards for all three tiers of government.
    • This amendment would allow the Election Commission of India to prepare a unified electoral roll and ID in consultation with State Election Commissions, requiring ratification by at least half of the states.
  3. Resolution of Hung House or No-Confidence Motion:
    • Recommends holding fresh elections in the event of a hung House, no-confidence motion, or similar circumstances.
    • These elections would be conducted to constitute the new Lok Sabha or state Assembly for the remaining term of the House.
  4. Meeting Logistics Requirements:
    • Urges the Election Commission of India to proactively plan and estimate logistical needs in advance.
    • This includes manpower, polling personnel, security forces, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), etc., in consultation with State Election Commissions.
    • Aims to ensure the smooth conduct of free and fair simultaneous elections across all three tiers of government.