The Great Confusion

Context: The recent election in the United States (US) has highlighted the ill-effects of the decentralized nature of the election process. While Indian elections are free from it, they are challenged by its centralized system.

Arguments against the decentralization of elections:

• Complex process in the US: The election process in the US creates confusion since each of the 50 states are able to set own rules of elections.
• For, E.g. Butterfly ballots in Florida confused voters and held up the resolution of the entire presidential election.
• Failure of The Election Assistance Commission: as it has been unable to resolve the key issue of mail-in votes leading to judicial battles.
• Sharp political polarization: combined with the federal system where states’ rights had precedence, prevented any real change to the system.

• Rejected by the Constituent Assembly of India: It was observed that local authorities were creating the new electoral rolls which excluded racial, cultural or linguistic minorities.

A case for the management of better voting: through a centralized system

• Australia: Pioneered innovations like secret ballots, preferential voting and compulsory participation and instituted and Election Commission in 1984.
• Canada: Pioneered an independent election commission, which came into existence with the passing of the Dominion Elections Act of 1920.
• Britain: While earlier Britain’s system was evolved by custom and the Parliament has the power to expand the franchise; it established its own Election Commission in 2001.

• India: India adopted the Canadian model, with a centralized and permanent Election Commission.

Issues with India’s elections system:

• Concerns about mechanics of the polling: which includes opaque use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and sustained allegations raised about poll staffers. 
• Method for selecting the commissioners: was much debated in the assembly, and remains an open question, due to come up before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

Conclusion: It remains to be determined whether the US system of decentralized chaos is better or the Indian system marred with corruption and undermining of Election Commission.