Need Rs 10,000 Crore Every 15 Years For One Nation, One Election: EC To Centre

The Election Commission (EC) has indicated that an estimated Rs 10,000 crore will be needed every 15 years to acquire new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) if simultaneous elections are conducted for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This communication highlights the financial implications and logistical requirements of such a large-scale electoral process. The EC pointed out that the shelf life of EVMs is 15 years, and a single set of machines could be utilized for three elections if simultaneous polls were implemented. The projected total number of polling stations required for the Lok Sabha polls this year in India is 11.80 lakh.

In the scenario of simultaneous polls, each polling station would necessitate two sets of EVMs-one for the Lok Sabha seat and another for the assembly constituency. The EC emphasized the need for a certain percentage of Control Units (CUs), Ballot Units (BUs), and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines as reserves to replace faulty units at different stages, including on election day.

The commission specified that, considering various aspects of polling, the minimum EVMs and VVPATs required for simultaneous elections would be 46,75,100 BUs, 33,63,300 CUs, and 36,62,600 VVPATs. In early 2023, the tentative cost of EVMs was Rs 7,900 per BU, Rs 9,800 per CU, and Rs 16,000 per unit of VVPAT.

Additionally, responding to a questionnaire from the Law Ministry on simultaneous polls, the EC highlighted the need for additional polling and security personnel, improved storage facilities for EVMs, and more vehicles for transporting polling staff and security personnel.

The commission emphasized the requirement of a warehouse for the production of new machines and stated that the first simultaneous elections could only be held in 2029.

Regarding constitutional amendments for simultaneous polls, the EC noted that five articles of the Indian Constitution would need changes. These include Article 83 (duration of Houses of Parliament), Article 85 (dissolution of the Lok Sabha by the President), Article 172 (duration of state legislatures), Article 174 (dissolution of state legislatures), and Article 356 (imposition of President's Rule in states). The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, relating to disqualification on the grounds of defection, would also require necessary modifications.

In response to these considerations, the government has formed a panel, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, called the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election. This committee is tasked with making recommendations for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.