News18 Pulse: One Nation, One Election | Over 81% Respondents Feel Move Will Cut Expenditure, Save Public Money
The survey also revealed that the proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all states enjoys strong support among the country’s electorate, with 80.1 per cent backing the move
A majority of India’s electorate believes that the proposal to hold simultaneous polls will reduce expenditure and save public money, a nationwide survey conducted by News18 shows.
According to the survey titled ‘News18 Pulse: One Nation, One Election’, 81.2% respondents are of the opinion that simultaneous polls will reduce the financial burden on the country.
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The One Nation, One Election Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17 last year and on Wednesday, the first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on simultaneous polls was held. The JPC is mandated to review the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aim to align elections at the national and state levels. It is headed by BJP MP and a former minister of state for law, PP Chaudhary, who called the meeting.
The survey interviewed 4,573 respondents across 29 states and Union Territories of India. The data was collected between December 23 and December 31, 2024.
Majority of those interviewed were Hindus — 86.5 per cent — followed by Muslims. Since the fieldwork was mainly restricted to cities and towns, the sample was largely urban at 66.1 per cent, barring the Northeast where a larger rural sample was surveyed.
Among the respondents, while males constituted 73.7 per cent, females were at 26.3 per cent. The Northeast, however, had a more sizeable female sample. Most of the respondents fell in the 26-55 years age bracket, comprising 81.7 per cent of the respondents.
The survey also revealed that the proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all states enjoys strong support among the country’s electorate, with 80.1 per cent respondents saying they support the move.
Nearly 50 per cent respondents expressed confidence that voters will not face problems in differentiating between candidates and parties at national and state levels. Over half the respondents (55.9 per cent) think simultaneous voting for national and state elections will not create confusion among voters.
The One Nation, One Election proposal aims to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, reducing the frequency of polls and cutting down on expenses. While its supporters argue that the move will minimise disruptions caused by frequent election cycles, the Opposition has flagged logistical challenges and the potential concentration of power.
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