Election Commission Estimates ₹10,000 Crore Cost for Simultaneous Polls, Recommends EVM Replacement Every 15 Years

The Election Commission (EC) has informed the Centre that holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in India would require an estimated ₹10,000 crore every 15 years for the procurement of new electronic voting machines (EVMs). In a communication, the EC highlighted the 15-year shelf life of EVMs and the need for substantial financial investment to conduct elections efficiently.

Key Points:

Estimated Cost and Equipment Requirement:

• The EC estimates a requirement of ₹10,000 crore every 15 years to procure new EVMs if simultaneous polls are held.
• The shelf life of EVMs is stated to be 15 years, allowing for three cycles of elections in their lifespan if conducted simultaneously.
• The EC would need 46,75,100 ballot units, 33,63,300 control units, and 36,62,600 Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines for simultaneous polls.

Polling Station Setup:

• To accommodate simultaneous elections, an estimated 11.80 lakh polling stations would need to be set up across India for the upcoming general elections.
• Two sets of EVMs would be required per polling station for simultaneous polls.

Financial Breakdown:

• The tentative cost of EVMs is broken down to ₹7,900 per ballot unit, ₹9,800 per control unit, and ₹16,000 per VVPAT machine.
• The EC stressed the need for additional funding, including expenses for polling and security personnel, enhanced storage facilities for EVMs, and additional vehicles.

Constitutional Amendments and Feasibility:

• The EC’s note to the Law Ministry indicates that five articles of the Constitution would need amendments for simultaneous general and state elections.
• While expressing support in principle, the BJP and its allies have not submitted suggestions to the EC, and several opposition parties have opposed the proposal.

Timeline for Simultaneous Polls:

• The EC suggests that the first simultaneous polls can only be held in 2029.
• The Law Commission and a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind have been exploring the feasibility of simultaneous elections.

The EC’s communication sheds light on the financial implications and logistical challenges associated with conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections. As the debate on “one nation, one election” continues, the EC emphasizes the need for substantial funding, amendments to the Constitution, and comprehensive planning to execute such a significant electoral reform.