NRIs can now vote in India

[Water Car Engineer]

New Delhi: The longstanding wish of millions of non-resident Indians (NRIs) to be able to exercise their franchise in India has come true, with the Centre issuing a notification to this effect.

In the monsoon session, Parliament had passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010, to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections.

“A gazette notification has been issued, giving voting rights to non-resident Indians,” Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said in the Lok Sabha, in reply to a question. — PTI

The Hindu : Front Page : NRIs can now vote in India

 

[Water Car Engineer]

New Delhi, 24 November 2010: 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.

Welcome Bellevision.com

 

[JanjaWeed]

great news!! one question on though.. is it limited only to national election or can we vote in assembley election as well??

 

[RISING SUN]

Proxy voting for NRIs cleared by the Union Cabinet
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to extend proxy voting to overseas Indians by amending electoral laws, a senior government functionary said.
For overseas Indians, the Representation of the People Act needs to be amended to include proxy voting as other means to cast their votes.

While NRIs and overseas Indians are free to cast their votes in constituencies where they are registered, according to the proposal, they would also be allowed to use the option of proxy, which as of now is only available to service personnel.

An expert committee in the Election Commission working on the issue had, in 2015, forwarded the legal framework to the law ministry to amend electoral laws to allow overseas Indians use proxy voting.

Data shows that only 10,000 to 12,000 NRIs have voted because they do not want to spend foreign currency to come to India and exercise their franchise.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ion-cabinet/articleshow/59886728.cms?from=mdr

 

[Nexus]

what is India ? a Dharamsala of all those who lives 1000s of Miles away in America,Canada,Uk.

A nation created by British, given to Anglo Elites and now slowly turning into western cultural colony.

 

[ashok321]

Who controlled India in 2010?
BJP?
No?

So how is it a good news?

BJP has monopoly on India's good news.

 

[padamchen]

No offense to the NRIs here, but this is a BS move.

And one whose motive is pretty crystal clear to all ...

You don't live here, what are you voting for? To impact how we live?

Cheers, Doc

 

[Soumitra]

No offense to the NRIs here, but this is a BS move.

And one whose motive is pretty crystal clear to all ...

You don't live here, what are you voting for? To impact how we live?

Cheers, Doc

Oh you are p!$$ed off because well off Hindu NRIs will not vote for "Secular" parties

The Muslim NRIs working as slave labour in Gulf Countries will be bothered too much of their own survival there to be voting in Indian Elections

 

[WhyCry]

No offense to the NRIs here, but this is a BS move.

And one whose motive is pretty crystal clear to all ...

You don't live here, what are you voting for? To impact how we live?

Cheers, Doc

They are indian citizens and are equal in their part of the share even though they just don't happen to there. Its like saying if you were born after 15th Aug 1947, you have no right to freedom since you were not there.

 

[padamchen]

They are indian citizens and are equal in their part of the share even though they just don't happen to there. Its like saying if you were born after 15th Aug 1947, you have no right to freedom since you were not there.

I know they are Indian citizens still. Technically. Till the green card comes.

They don't live here.

Their life is not directly impacted by the result of their vote.

That is VERY different to us living here having to live with the mandate for the next five years.

It's a BS move. And clear why sanghis are chortling with glee.

Cheers, Doc

 

[WhyCry]

I know they are Indian citizens still. Technically. Till the green card comes.

They don't live here.

Their life is not directly impacted by the result of their vote.

That is VERY different to us living here having to live with the mandate for the next five years.

It's a BS move. And clear why sanghis are chortling with glee.

Cheers, Doc

Well I Don't like to discredit people with name calling; therefore please stop that bs with me.

Back to the point, Those people are still indian citizens even after green card until they opt for another country's nationality.

What do you mean by to live with it? They are not your bedroom masters. They make policies that effect all the people... some more than less.

 

[padamchen]

Well I Don't like to discredit people with name calling; therefore please stop that bs with me.

Back to the point, Those people are still indian citizens even after green card until they opt for another country's nationality.

What do you mean by to live with it? They are not your bedroom masters. They make policies that effect all the people... some more than less.

I just saw your flags.

Never mind.

Cheers, Doc

 

[Soumitra]

That is VERY different to us living here having to live with the mandate for the next five years.

If you are so worried about the mandate you have 2 options

1 Vote for the party that you feel is more suited for your aspirations and try and get others to vote for it.

2 However if the other people's aspirations are not in line with you instead of crying you have option of relocating to a place where you feel the govt is more aligned to your aspiration

 

[padamchen]

If you are so worried about the mandate you have 2 options

1 Vote for the party that you feel is more suited for your aspirations and try and get others to vote for it.

2 However if the other people's aspirations are not in line with you instead of crying you have option of relocating to a place where you feel the govt is more aligned to your aspiration

Stop boring me sanghi.

You are neither witty nor intelligent enough.

Cheers, Doc

 

[randomradio]

No offense to the NRIs here, but this is a BS move.

And one whose motive is pretty crystal clear to all ...

You don't live here, what are you voting for? To impact how we live?

Cheers, Doc

They are still citizens of the country.

Many of the immigrants actually come back, particularly the ones in the Gulf.