How NRIs could vote by post? Flashcards
What is Context?
Election Commission (EC) recently approached the Law Ministry to permit NRIs to cast their votes from overseas through postal ballots.
What is the current process of voting for Indian citizens living abroad?
Voting rights for NRIs were introduced only in 2011, through an amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1950.
An NRI can vote in the constituency in which her place of residence, as mentioned in the passport, is located.
She/he can only vote in person and will have to produce her passport in original at the polling station for establishing identity.
If approved, how will voting by postal ballots work for NRIs?
According to the EC proposal, any NRI interested in voting through the postal ballot in an election will have to inform the Returning Officer (RO) not later than five days after the notification of the election.
On receiving such information, the RO will dispatch the ballot paper electronically.
The NRI voters will download the ballot paper, mark their preference on the printout and send it back along with a declaration attested by an officer appointed by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where the NRI is resident.
What is Postal Ballots System?
Ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.
Who are currently allowed to use postal ballot system?
- Service voters (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government servants posted abroad),
- Voters on election duty,
- Voters above 80 years of age or Persons with Disabilities (PwD),
- Voters under preventive detention.
