ward having one scat in the Union Council. The number of contestants for each such scat may be 4 to 5, with the presence of political parties in the field in future, the number of contestants for an Assembly seat as well is not likely to exceed five on an average. Thus, the number of copies of the rolls required by the contestants in both the systems will be. more or less, the same. Again the agencies to be employed for the preparation and printing of electoral rolls may be the same in both the systems. It is true that the last elections to Basic Democracies were held throughout the country with ease and at less expense. This was mainly due to the fact that the old electoral rolls, prepared and printed in 1957 for Assembly elections, were used in connection with the elections to Basic Democracies after necessary adjustment, and it was not necessary to prepare and print electoral rolls afresh. The other reason was that no ballot box was supplied by the election authorities, and the candidates themselves were required to bring their own ballot boxes. But in a future primary election for the constitution of an electoral college such easy methods can no more be employed without facing public criticism. To hold and conduct election to the office of President and that of members of the Assemblies, including a primary election in the indirect system is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission under Article 153 of the Constitution. The primary election being very important in the indirect system, it shall be necessary for the Commission to carry out every item of work in connection with such election with meticulous care strictly according to laws and rules as in the case of direct election, Besides, secrecy of ballot, as enjoined by the Constitution, shall have to be maintained, Accordingly, printing of electoral rolls and ballot papers and supply of ballot boxes by the election commission shall be necessary in both the systems. It therefore, seems direct election on the basis of adult suffrage is not likely to be costlier than indirect election on the basis of such suffrage; rather the costs of the secondary election added to those of the primary election may make the indirect System more expensive..................
The last argument against the direct system is that there are greater chances of false personation and consequently of bogus voting in this system. This, if true, is likely to be present also in the indirect system, the difference being only one of degree. The remedy against possible personation in the direct system does not lie in the rejection of that system on that score. All that is necessary is to take appropriate steps so that it may be very difficult for anyone to personate....
The question of direct election on the basis of universal adult franchise being the most controversial, an endeavor has been made to state precisely the possible arguments for and against it. Having carefully considered the merits and demerits of both the systems of election, the voluminous evidence received by the Commission and the long- standing practice of direct election to which people have become accustomed, it seems to us that the reasons in support of the system of direct election on the basis of universal suffrage are far more weighty in spite of widespread illiteracy and backwardness in the country. We, therefore, recommend that members of the National and Provincial Assemblies should be elected direct on the basis of universal adult franchise.
