Delhi Election Commission launches process of including NRIs in electoral rolls
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_delhi-election-commission-launches-process-of-including-nris-in-electoral-rolls_1535462
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) hailing from the city can now apply for inclusion of their names in the voters' list with Delhi Election Commission (EC) formally launching the process for entry of their names in the electoral rolls.
The Election Commission earlier this year had issued guidelines for enrollment of names of NRIs in the rolls after holding several rounds of discussions with the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs.
Officials in the state Election Commission said overseas citizens from the city can apply for enrollment into voters' list through Indian missions abraod or can approach voter registration centres in the city.
For enrollment of names in voters' list, an NRI can go to an election registration officer (ERO) in person or send by post his application to the ERO concerned.
A postal application must be accompanied by copies of the passport and some other documents duly attested by an officer of the Indian mission in the country concerned.
According to earlier rules, an NRI's name gets deleted from the voters' list if he or she stays outside the country for over six months at a stretch.
However, Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 2010 has allowed an Indian citizen residing abroad to enroll in voters' list and exercise his franchise even if he or she remained away from the place of residence in India for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise.
After enrollment, an overseas elector will be able to cast his vote in an election in the constituency, in person, at the polling station where he is registered as an overseas elector.
For enrollment into voters' list, an overseas Indian must have Indian passport.
Although Parliament had in August last year passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010, to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections, the process to finalise the norms took time due to initial differences between the government and the Election Commission.
