Simultaneous elections were historically held in India until 1967 but the practice shifted, with various commissions and working groups since 1983 recommending returning to a single election date for Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save costs and administrative challenges. However, aligning varying state assembly terms, building consensus among parties, and addressing logistical hurdles like transportation and security would require constitutional amendments and planning. Potential solutions include highlighting the precedent, expanding it to local elections, fixing dates, alternative government formations, and discussing required amendments.

1. One Nation, One Election
GS2: Polity and Governance

2. Historical Background
● Simultaneous elections were held until 1967. Shift in practice in the
late 1960s
Evolution of the Idea
● 1983: Introduction of the concept in the Election Commission's report
● 1999: Discussion in the Law Commission's report
● 2017: Examination in Niti Aayog's working paper
● 2018: Highlighting of the idea by the Law Commission

3. Challenges
● Term Synchronization: There is variability in the terms of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. There is a
need to align these terms for simultaneous elections
● Constitutional Amendments: There is a need of identifying key constitutional articles that require
changes.
● Building Consensus: There is need to build consensus in the public sphere as well as among the political
parties, which is a challenge in itself.

4. Logistical Hurdles
● Increased requirements for EVMs and VVPATs
● Augmented polling personnel
● Transportation complexities
● Heightened security demands
● EVM storage issues

5. Potential Solutions
● Highlighting the historical precedent of simultaneous elections
● Considering expansion to local body elections
● Introducing fixed election dates
● Examining alternative government formation
● Discussing the need for constitutional amendments