Voting right is a fundamental right of a citizen of any democratic country.
Theoretically, every NRI has a right to vote, but practically none of the over
25 million NRIs actually participate in voting due to outdated laws of India.
Unfortunately, there was no provision of NRIs to register as a voter till 2010.
Though, NRIs were given voting rights in 2010 through an amendment in the
Representation of People Act, 1951, but a majority of NRIs are unable to vote
as they have to travel all the way to India to exercise their voting right.
Currently, as the law is defined, people have to vote in person in their constituencies except government official and Army personnel, who can use postal ballots. This regulation is seen as restrictive as only 10-15 thousands Indians living around the world have registered as voters, the maximum being from Kerala. Only 10-15% of those registered voter actually did vote in any election so far .In today's global world where people around the world travel for work, pleasure and family commitment, Indian Government law is still medieval as far as casting the vote is concerned.
The govt is ignoring a section of the Indian citizen and denying them their fundamental rights due to policy paralysis and lack of decision making. The same Govt. and political parties have been trying hard to attract the NRIs and people of Indian origin around the world to invest and do something in India. But there is no reciprocating mechanism to provide them a fundamental right, which is practically denied because of lack of Govt initiative. The political parties specially like BJP and AAP get lots of funding from NRIs, but there is no political will across political spectrum to do something about this issue.
This a shame for NRIs to not to be able to raise this issue significantly. There are large NRI communities which are supporting different political parties and provide them funding too. Almost all the NRIs have their view about India whether it is about how to eradicate the corruption or it is about development of India. Most vocal voices across the internet can be head from NRIs on this General Election but unfortunately none of those voices are going to convert in the vote.
There are three options to achieve NRI voting, first postal ballot for registered NRI voter, second is online voting and third is voting at Indian consulate in the foreign countries. This needs amendments to Representation of Peoples Act to have a provision for "Absentee voting facility" for Indians living abroad. BJP has been the only party which is raising the issue of NRI voter right largely because of very significant support to the party from NRI community. Election commission has been trying to implement this but it doesn't look like that it can be done for this General Election.
Most democratic countries like US, UK and other European countries provide the voting rights to their citizen living outside the country. India which is not only a largest democracy in the world but also have second largest diaspora around the world, should have done something more concrete towards the democratic rights of their 25 million citizens living abroad. I hope that better sense prevails and new Govt will do the same soon.
Currently, as the law is defined, people have to vote in person in their constituencies except government official and Army personnel, who can use postal ballots. This regulation is seen as restrictive as only 10-15 thousands Indians living around the world have registered as voters, the maximum being from Kerala. Only 10-15% of those registered voter actually did vote in any election so far .In today's global world where people around the world travel for work, pleasure and family commitment, Indian Government law is still medieval as far as casting the vote is concerned.
The govt is ignoring a section of the Indian citizen and denying them their fundamental rights due to policy paralysis and lack of decision making. The same Govt. and political parties have been trying hard to attract the NRIs and people of Indian origin around the world to invest and do something in India. But there is no reciprocating mechanism to provide them a fundamental right, which is practically denied because of lack of Govt initiative. The political parties specially like BJP and AAP get lots of funding from NRIs, but there is no political will across political spectrum to do something about this issue.
This a shame for NRIs to not to be able to raise this issue significantly. There are large NRI communities which are supporting different political parties and provide them funding too. Almost all the NRIs have their view about India whether it is about how to eradicate the corruption or it is about development of India. Most vocal voices across the internet can be head from NRIs on this General Election but unfortunately none of those voices are going to convert in the vote.
There are three options to achieve NRI voting, first postal ballot for registered NRI voter, second is online voting and third is voting at Indian consulate in the foreign countries. This needs amendments to Representation of Peoples Act to have a provision for "Absentee voting facility" for Indians living abroad. BJP has been the only party which is raising the issue of NRI voter right largely because of very significant support to the party from NRI community. Election commission has been trying to implement this but it doesn't look like that it can be done for this General Election.
Most democratic countries like US, UK and other European countries provide the voting rights to their citizen living outside the country. India which is not only a largest democracy in the world but also have second largest diaspora around the world, should have done something more concrete towards the democratic rights of their 25 million citizens living abroad. I hope that better sense prevails and new Govt will do the same soon.
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