• The high-level committee on simultaneous polls headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its report on ‘One Nation, One Election’ to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14. 

• Set up in September 2023, the panel headed by Kovind is mandated to examine and make recommendations on the issue of holding elections simultaneously.

• Headed by Kovind, the members of the panel are Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman N.K. Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari. 

• Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was also made a member of the panel but he declined, dubbing the committee as a total eyewash. 

• Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is a special invitee to the panel.

• The report, with over 18,000 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work.

Main recommendations of the panel:

• After careful consideration of all suggestions and viewpoints, the Committee recommended a two-step approach to lead to the simultaneous elections. 

• As a first step, simultaneous elections will be held for Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies. 

• In the second step, elections to the municipalities and panchayats will be synchronised with the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies in such a way that elections to the municipalities and panchayats are held within 100 days of holding elections to Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.

• The Committee also recommended that there should be a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for use in elections to all the three tiers of government.

• In tune with its mandate to explore the mechanism for simultaneous elections, and keeping in view the existing framework of the Constitution, the Committee has crafted its recommendations in such a way that they are in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of India and would require bare minimum amendments to the Constitution.

• In the event of a hung House, no-confidence motion, or any such event, fresh elections should be held to constitute the Lok Sabha or state Legislative Assembly for the “unexpired term”.

• The Committee recommended that for meeting logistical requirements, the Election Commission of India will plan and estimate in advance in consultation with the State Election Commissions, and take steps for the deployment of polling personnel, security forces, EVMs/VVPATs, etc, so that free and fair simultaneous elections are held in all the three tiers of the government.

• Upon all-inclusive deliberations, the Committee concluded that its recommendations will significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of the voters. 

Will need new EVMs

• While the Election Commission is mandated to hold Presidential, vice-presidential, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislature polls, respective state election commissions hold local body polls.

• The Election Commission has said it would require an estimated Rs 10,000 crore every 15 years to procure new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) if polls are held simultaneously.

• In a communication sent to the government last year, the EC noted that the shelf life of EVMs was 15 years and one set of machines could be used to conduct three cycles of elections in their life span if polls were held together.

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