NRIs can Now Vote, Govt Issues Notification


NRIs can Now Vote, Govt Issues Notification

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI):
A longstanding wish of millions of NRIs for voting right in India has come true with the Centre issuing a notification to this effect to enable them to exercise their franchise.

Parliament had in the monsoon session passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections and now government has issued a gazette notification in this regard. "Gazette notification has been issued giving voting rights to Non-Resident Indians," Overseas Indian Affairs Minister told Lok Sabha, replying to a question.

An estimated 11 million NRIs are living in various countries across the world. However, the person will be able to exercise the franchise only if he or she is present in the constituency on the polling day.

Ravi said NRIs, "who have not acquired citizenship of any other country and are living abroad owing to employment, education or otherwise, are now eligible to register their names in the electoral rolls" in their places as mentioned in their passport. He said the Election Commission is likely to soon finalise the rules and regulations prescribing modalities for entry of names of NRIs in electoral rolls.

The Government had decided to allow the NRIs to participate in the democratic process to further boost the two-way engagement. As per the existing rules, an NRI's name gets deleted from the voters' list if he or she stays outside the country for more than six months at a stretch.

The new law will allow an Indian citizen residing abroad to enroll in voter's list and exercise his franchise even if he or she remained away from place of residence in India for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year, had indicated that Indian passport holders living abroad could get voting rights by the time of next Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Tajuddin Sheikh, Muscat/ Udupi

    Thu, Nov 25 2010

    But the point is who will go to india just for the sake of vote ?? They should do some arrangement to vote in embassy or consulate as said by Mr Mathew.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Austin Santhosh, Haleangadi/Bahrain

    Thu, Nov 25 2010

    Believe me - After the next election, Lokayuktha will be busy in finding out how the NRI's are able to arrive/vote in large numbers. The enquiry will be called "Biggest Airline Ticket Scandal"

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Tom Cat , Mangalore/ Saudi Arabia

    Thu, Nov 25 2010

    The crooked congress can never get it straight, why not vote in embassy's. This action will help BJP and congress will never prosper as long as they don't respect the will of the people which is development.As long as long as old buffoons remain in the party it never be straight.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • VINCY, SHAMBOOR/BANGKOK

    Thu, Nov 25 2010

    . Most of the NRI’s are well educated and are capable of making a wise choice to elect the right candidate
    All you NRI’s If you go back today and check in your constituency about your voting rights ,then you will know you are a unwanted citizen because you are a Indian citizen without a voting right.It is a violation of your fundamental right to vote.
    Many NRI voters of minority community have lost voting rights because they are away for more than six months. In Karnataka the BJP state government made a quick move to implement this rule in Karnataka so that they can block many minority community votes even if they are present in India on the polling day.
    I visit India almost once in 45 days but my name was d from the voters list and my parents had to apply to the concerned authorities to activate my voters ID.
    In India many residents are either lazy or lost interest to go back to their constituency on the polling day.They rather relax at home with booze bought at a higher price.It is indeed a good move by the UPA government. Since there are Direct flights to Mangalore from UAE and other Gulf countries, NRI’s of Kerala and Karnataka will be able to vote.
    Many who comment this move as negative have no experience and importance of having a election card and being present on the polling day. When you are a NRI and if you cannot vote then you will feel like unwanted alien on polling day.


    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • kiran, udupi

    Thu, Nov 25 2010

    Goodmove by the indian government.... If we are on vacation, during election time we can vote & be a part of choosing LEADERS.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Louis D'Souza, Udupi/Kuwait

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    What about Air Ticket?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • KISHORE, Udupi/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Good move but most important is Compulsary vote for each Citizen in India like Modi did in Gujarat.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Felix, Kinnigoli

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Why we will vote? Our low paid workers are treated like dogs in the Middle East and lot of people are in the prison.... Who needs us? Who needs out votes now??

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Matthew Singh, Beliz/Central America

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Indian Citizens should be able to vote in Indian Embassy or Counsel Office in foreign countries. traveling back home just to vote is a hardship on Indian Citizens living abroad.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • KT, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Wrong move by congress at this point? This will gain only BJP

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • santhosh suvarna, mangalore/west africa/cote'd ivoire

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Good move by the indian goverment for those who live  abroad

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • mustafa gangavali, shiruru / dubai

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    sounds good.let see its realy activate or just paper gossip

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ashraf, Udyavar/udupi/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 24 2010

    Finally dream come true, congrats to NRI's

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: NRIs can Now Vote, Govt Issues Notification



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.