ECI, SECs agree to sync local bodies, Lok Sabha, state poll laws

New Delhi: In a move that could advance a key recommendation of the Kovind panel on simultaneous polls-aligning elections across all three tiers, including local bodies, with Parliament and state assemblies-the Election Commission on Tuesday passed a 'National Declaration' to work with State Election Commissions (SECs) to harmonise laws governing Panchayat and municipal elections with those for Parliament and state legislatures.

The ECI hosted a roundtable conference with SECs in New Delhi on Tuesday, where, in the "national and constitutional interest", it proposed working out mutually acceptable mechanisms and legally viable frameworks to align with SECs across the country on "all possible election processes, including the sharing of ECINET, EVMs, electoral rolls and the world-class infrastructure at IIIDEM," the poll panel said in a statement.

A joint team of legal and technical officers, led by EC officials, will now formulate a State/UT-wise "way forward" and submit it to the poll panel within three months for a "best possible decision in national interest".


The Ram Nath Kovind led High Level Committee has strongly backed simultaneous polls across all three tiers with a two step process. The panel has held that constitutional amendments will be required for synchronicity with local body polls.

The panel has also held that a single electoral roll and electoral photo identity cards (EPIC) should be used in elections to all the three tiers of Government.

The ECI is to help draw up plans and estimates, in consultation with the SECs, for the deployment of manpower, polling personnel, security forces, EVMs/VVPATs for simultaneous elections in all the three tiers of the Government, the Kovind panel report says.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in his inaugural address also emphasised on the need for strengthening 'institutional coordination' between the ECI and SECs and 'harmonised approaches' to further enhance the integrity and efficiency of electoral processes in the country.

Amid the ongoing SIR, the poll panel underscored that preparation of "pure electoral rolls" is the bedrock of democracy and that transparent, efficient conduct of elections strengthens democratic institutions.