One Nation One Election (ONOE)
Why in news?
The JPC held meetings on December 3 and December 10, 2025, hearing experts like former Chief Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, J.S. Khehar, and Kapil Sibal, who raised concerns over federalism and Election Commission powers.
About One Nation One Election (ONOE)
One Nation One Election (ONOE) proposes synchronizing Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body elections in India either on a single day or within a short timeframe to reduce costs and disruptions.​
Objectives
- Synchronize elections for Lok Sabha and all state assemblies first, followed by panchayat and municipal polls within 100 days.​
- Cut public expenditure on frequent polls, minimize strain on security forces, and limit Model Code of Conduct disruptions to governance.​
- Restore the pre-1967 cycle of simultaneous elections disrupted by premature dissolutions.​
Significance
- Reduces overall election costs significantly, freeing resources for development like healthcare and education.​
- Boosts voter turnout by curbing fatigue and enables focus on long-term policies over populism.​
- Improves resource efficiency for security and administration while promoting cooperative federalism.​
Concerns
- Threatens federalism by favoring national parties over regional ones and mixing local-national issues.​
- Requires complex constitutional amendments risking legal challenges under Article 14 on unequal tenures.​
- Limits government accountability as frequent polls allow voter checks on performance.​
Way Forward
- Build consensus through national dialogue with parties, experts, and civil society.​
- Strengthen Election Commission with more EVMs, VVPATs, and tech for voter rolls.​
- Develop legal mechanisms like an 'Appointed Date' from 2029 for gradual synchronization.
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