One Nation One Election through a two-tier representation system

One Nation One Election is possible

 

There were debates on whether it is practically possible to implement One Nation One Election because of the difficulties which may face with the current voting system. The uncertainties in the duration of state assemblies and the parliament make it tough to bring their elections together.

 

One Nation One Election through a two-tier representation system

 

We can implement One Nation One Election by using an electoral college in a two-tier representation system. 

Once every 5 years, the people shall elect intermediary representatives to form an electoral college and the electoral college shall elect the members for the respective state assembly and parliament. This can reduce the election expenses drastically and corruption in politics also will reduce considerably. For the voters there shall be elections once every five years, but that doesn't hinder them from calling back or replacing incompetent representatives.

 

How to make a two-tier representation system?

 

The lion's share of election expenses is for 'educating' the voters, who the candidate is, and what his qualities are. If the candidate is one among the voters, there is a lesser need for posters, banners, etc. Moreover, the voters now have no say in the selection of candidates nor does the public have a proper interface with their elected representatives, as the ratio of voters to reps is very huge in India (An MP represents more than 25 lakh people on an average). Ideologies and manifestos now get lesser importance once the election process completes. All the voters can do now is to cast their 'precious' votes and wait for another election to do the same. It may be the reason for lesser and lesser voters' turnout in the elections.

 

Can we reduce the election expenses for candidates?

 

We can achieve a significant reduction in election expenses for candidates by adopting the two-tier approach. For the parliament or state legislatures, each constituency may be divided into around 1000 sub-constituencies (or wards) depending on the size of the constituency. The voters of each sub-constituency may elect a rep (primary rep/people's rep or PR) for their sub-constituency. This PRs, who form an electoral college, shall elect the rep for the constituency. Here a candidate will have to convince only the PRs what he can do for the constituency and the country. The PRs can consult their voters thereafter and elect a rep accordingly for their constituency. The duty of a PR doesn't end with this election, instead can double as Public Relations personnel for the elected rep.

 

Candidates use many crooked ways to win elections like sponsoring rebels for opposing candidates (again increase in expense) thereby splitting the opponent's votes. Some candidates intimidate the voters so that the voters stay away from voting for their opponents. In the end, a candidate gets declared as being elected just by obtaining 15% or less of total votes in the constituency (The first-past-the-post system). It is very difficult to enforce a minimum percentage votes rule under current circumstances, as the re-elections will also be cumbersome and expensive.

 

Call back the representatives

 

The PRs shall assemble periodically to decide the future course of action for the constituency and to assess the performance of their elected representative. If the performance of their rep is not found satisfactory, the PRs shall call back the rep and consequently elect a new rep in his place. So, the reps will have to maintain a good relation or contact with the PRs and the constituency whereas the reps used to dance to the tunes of 'sponsors'.

 

The emergence of a new political culture

 

PRs shall not have many powers and shall just act as a mediator between voters and their rep. PRs shall be from all walks of life (not just full-time politicians) and shall utilize their tenure to acquire training in democratic procedures and to prove their leadership qualities. A minimum percentage rule can be enforced to make sure that the candidates who obtain a minimum percentage (say, 51%) of the total votes in the constituency shall only be declared as elected.

 

Advantages of the two-tier representation system

 

* Same electoral college can be used for a period (say, five years) to elect members of the state assembly and parliament.

* Election expenses for each candidate will be reduced significantly, thereby by the chance of corruption gets reduced.

* Voters will have more say on who should be their rep, not the party chiefs or sponsoring beneficiaries.

* Elected reps will have more time to spend with the voters, as the reps will be less bounded to sponsors.

* Better correlation between voters and their reps possible through an intermediate layer of PRs.

* Voters will not have to wait for the next election to sack their reps, if required they can call them back.

* Can enforce a minimum percentage rule for votes required for getting elected. 

* This approach can lead to better utilization of our resources including money and manpower which otherwise goes waste.

 

 

The two-tier representation system can be used to implement One Nation One Election for the state assemblies and Parliament even when the durations of state assemblies and parliament may be staggered. It will strengthen the democracy by better participation of people and with less influence of money in the election process.