In the event that India holds simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and assemblies, the Election Commission would need to spend approximately ₹10,000 crore every 15 years to buy new electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The poll panel said that the EVMs had a 15-year shelf life in a letter to the Center. If polls were held simultaneously, one set of machines could be used to conduct three cycles of elections in their lifetime, according to PTI.
For the next general elections, an estimated 11.80 lakh polling places would need to be set up throughout India. Each polling station would need two sets of EVMs in order to conduct simultaneous polls.
In its communication, the EC stated that a certain percentage of control units, ballot units and voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines are needed as reserves to replace defective units at different stages, including on election day, the PTI report added.
For one EVM, at least one control unit, one ballot unit and one VVPAT machine are needed. As a result, the EC would require 46,75,100 ballot units, 33,63,300 control units and 36,62,600 VVPAT machines for simultaneous polls.
According to the poll panel, the estimated expense of the EVM was ₹7,900 for each ballot unit, ₹9,800 for each control unit, and ₹16,000 for each VVPAT.
The first simultaneous polls, according to EC, can only take place in 2029, while highlighting the necessity for more poll workers and security guards in addition to improved EVM storage facilities and more cars.
Five articles of the Constitution will need to be amended in order to allow for simultaneous state and general elections, according to a note from the European Commission to the Law Ministry.
The provisions that need amendments include Article 83 pertaining to the duration of Houses of Parliament and Article 85 on the dissolution of Lok Sabha by the President.
Another article that will require amendments is the Article 172 on the duration of state legislatures, while Article 174 pertaining to the dissolution of the state legislatures, and Article 356 relating to the imposition of President’s Rule in the states will also need to be amended, the PTI report noted.
The panel also noted that the Tenth Schedule related to disqualification on the grounds of defection will also require necessary changes.
Read More
MDMA Worth ₹45k Seized; one Arrested
