The agenda of the high-level committee formed under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind includes examining the logistical requirements for holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies. This committee will examine the need for additional EVMs and personnel for this exercise.
The Standing Committee on Law and Department of Personnel had come out with a report in December 2015 on the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for the ‘Lok Sabha and State Assemblies’, citing suggestions made by the Election Commission on the issue.
It was said in the report that the Commission pointed out several difficulties that may be faced in holding simultaneous elections.
The main issue highlighted in this was that holding of simultaneous elections would require large scale procurement of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
The report said that the Commission estimates that a total of Rs 9,284.15 crore will be required for the purchase of EVMs and VVPATs to hold simultaneous elections.
Besides, the EVM machine has a life span of 15 years and after that it would need to be replaced, which would further increase the expenditure. Citing the suggestion of the Election Commission, the Standing Committee said that the cost of storing these machines would also increase.
Two public sector companies – Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited manufacture RVMs and VVPATs.
The Election Commission has the right to conduct parliamentary and assembly elections, the State Election Commission has the right to conduct local body elections.
