Published Paper Details:

"One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) in India advocates concurrent elections for the centre and the State Legislative Assemblies. In the early decades following independence, concurrent elections were employed; however, many early dissolutions of state assemblies and intermittent periods of federal rule have led to a staggered electoral schedule. This continuous election cycle imposes significant financial, administrative, and governance restrictions. These risks include the regular application of the MCC, the diversion of society employees and security personnel, and the disruption of policy implementation. With the objectives of boosting voter turnout, cutting public spending, enhancing policy coherence, and streamlining election administration, ONOE is proposed as a solution to these problems. Despite its promises of better governance and economic efficiency, the initiative's execution faces substantial challenges, including as constitutional amendments, federal concerns, and logistical constraints. Aligning national and state elections has the potential to obscure regional issues, marginalize small parties, and affect India's federal structure. However, with enough planning, ONOE can reduce election fatigue, optimize administrative and financial resources, and foster democratic functioning by allowing governments to focus on long-term policy objectives rather than ongoing campaigning. This article provides an institutional analysis of ONOE, examining its history, benefits, implementation challenges, and implications for India's democratic governance.