e-postal ballot system for NRI
Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct about e-postal ballot?
1. Government has approved e-ballot voting for Indian passport holders abroad.
2. It requires amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951.- Published on 08 Dec 15a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
ANSWER: Both
- According to the provisions of the RP Act, a person who is a citizen of India and who has not acquired the citizenship of any other country and is otherwise eligible to be registered as a voter and who is absent from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to employment, education or otherwise is eligible to be registered as a voter in the constituency in which his place of residence in India, as mentioned in his passport, is located.
- The Government had in 2010 allowed voting rights to NRIs but only if physically present in the constituency.
- That was challenged in court as “inherent inequality”.
- EC has submitted a proposal by which NRIs are free to cast their votes in constituencies they are registered they would also be allowed to use the option of proxy, which as of now is only available to service personnel.
- Another option would be to use postal ballot delivered to them by electronic means to cast their vote. This would mean amending the current laws governing right to vote.
