The Election Commission of India has proposed to the Union Government to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) facility to eligible overseas Indian voters.
- Currently this facility is available to service voters.
- The commission on November 27, 2020 wrote a letter to the Law Ministry in this regard.
- The EC observed that Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 envisages the right to vote for every citizen registered in the electoral roll who is not subject to disqualification for voting.
Which country’s NRI will get this opportunity?
- The proposal may get implemented first for voters based in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, and South Africa.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past expressed reservations over facilitating voting for Indian citizens living in non-democratic nations (Gulf Countries) as these nations may not approve the proposal of NRI voters queuing outside Indian Missions and Embassies.
How many are registered NRI Voters?
- According to a UN report of 2015, India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world at 16 million people. However, registration of NRI voters, in comparison, has been very low: a little over 1 lakh overseas Indians registered as voters in India.
- Out of 1.18 lakh NRI voters, the largest number are registered to vote in Kerala (89,000. followed by Andhra Pradesh (roughly 7,500), Maharashtra (5,500 approx), Karnataka (4,500 approx), Tamil Nadu (3,200), and Telangana (2,500).
Who are allowed to use ETPBS?
- The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 were amended in October 2016 to allow service voters to use ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System).
- Recently Rules was also changed to allow those who are 80 years of age or above and those with disabilities to use the postal ballot to cast vote.
- Under ETPBS, the postal ballot is sent electronically to a service voter. The service voter downloads it and uses a specific envelope to return it to the returning officer of his constituency. The postal ballot should reach the returning officer by 8.00 am on the day of the counting. Counting of votes begins with the counting of postal ballots at 8.00 am.
Voting right to the Overseas Indians
- A citizen of India, absent from the country owing to employment, education etc, has not acquired citizenship of any other country and are otherwise eligible to be registered as a voter in the address mentioned in the passport.
- They need to fill Form 6A online.
- An overseas elector is not issued an EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) & he is allowed to vote in person at the polling station on production of original passport.
(References: Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Election Commission of India)
