Simultaneous Elections in India

Indian Polity

Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission stated that frequent elections hinder reforms and proposed simultaneous elections as a solution.

The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 & Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced to implement Simultaneous Elections.

Need for Simultaneous Elections
Promotes Consistency in Governance: Shifts focus to development & policy implementation, reducing costs of multiple elections. Prevents Policy Paralysis: Reduces prolonged MCC enforcement, enabling smoother governance and policy continuity.	Reduces Electoral Fatigue: Allows parties to focus on public welfare rather than frequent elections. Mitigates Resource Diversion: Limits repeated deployment of polling officials. Political Opportunities: Encourages new candidates, reducing dominance.

Challenges

Managing 96 crore voters, 1 Mn polling booths, large security forces, and staff training.
Requires more EVMs and VVPATs, along with foolproof backup systems.
Adjusting state assembly terms could weaken the federal spirit of the Constitution.
Fewer elections may reduce public scrutiny of governments and leaders.
Constitutional amendments and new processes may face court challenges.

Suggestions

Define procedures, schedules & constitutional amendments, addressing premature dissolutions and by-elections.
Create a unified electoral roll, upgrade EVM and VVPAT systems, and use technology for voter verification and result management.
Run nationwide campaigns through NGOs and community organizations.
Train election officials on new technologies and procedures for smooth implementation.
Align state election cycles by advancing or postponing certain state elections.