Preparation for Casualty-Free Lok Sabha Polls in Uttarakhand

• 19 Apr 2024

Why in News?

According to Uttarakhand's Additional Chief Electoral Officer, preparations are under way for the Lok Sabha elections. All five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand are scheduled to take place in a single phase on 19^th April 2024.

Key Points

• According to the officials, they have arranged two helicopters for emergency service, and voting will be casualty-free and no emergency situation will arise.
• To increase voter turnout in the hill state, more than 11,000 polling booths are being set up across the state.
  • The counting of votes is scheduled on 4^th June 2024.

One Nation-One Election (ONOE)

• About:
  • The concept talks about a scenario where all State elections will take place simultaneously with the general elections of Lok Sabha, once every five years.
  • The idea is to streamline the electoral process and reduce the frequency of elections, thus saving time and resources.
• Background:
  • The idea has been around since 1983, when the Election Commission first mooted it. However, until 1967, simultaneous elections were the norm in India.
    • The first General Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and all State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously in 1951-52.
    • That practice continued in three subsequent General Elections held in the years 1957, 1962 and 1967.
  • However, due to the premature dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, the cycle got disrupted.
    • In 1970, the Lok Sabha was itself dissolved prematurely and fresh elections were held in 1971. Thus, till 1970, only the First, Second and Third Lok Sabha enjoyed full five-year terms.