The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 10th March 2019 announced that Lok Sabha polls 2019 will be held in seven phases. The results of the 2019 general election will be out on May 23. In this year's Lok Sabha election 2019, over 820 million voters would be eligible to exercise their voting rights, and among them, about 15 million are between the ages of 18 and 19 years. With the election just a few weeks, there is a buzzing question as to whether NRIs can cast their vote online or not? The answer is no. Even though social media is abuzz with posts that non-resident Indians can exercise their franchise in this year's general election online. Responding to the viral news that NRI voters are now allowed to cast their vote online, the spokesperson of Election Commission said “NRI voters have not been extended right to cast their votes online in the Lok Sabha elections due this summer. If it happens, it needs an amendment to the Representation of the People Act. No such amendment has taken place.”
Having said that, according to ECI regulations, a non-resident Indian, who holds an Indian passport, can vote in his/her hometown after registering as an Overseas Voter. The NRI must fill the Form 6A, which can be downloaded online at nvsp.in or by using Voter helpline mobile app or can be taken from the nearest Indian Mission. The duly filled forms with supporting documents must be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer in the constituency in person or via post. After verification, the ECI will add the NRI to the electoral rolls as an 'Overseas Voter’. Once the person returns to India, he or she will have to re-register himself or herself as a general voter and obtain an EPIC card.
There are two more options for an Overseas Voter: postal ballots and proxy voting but it is only reserved for government and armed forces personnel. Postal ballots, in which a voter exercises his/her franchise through the post is available only for people on election duty, armed forces personnel, and electors subject to preventive detention. The option of proxy voting is available only for armed forces, police, and government officials posted outside India. The person can authorize another person residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his/her behalf. This option is currently available for wives of the above-mentioned personnel, but not for the husbands.
Therefore, in the absence of any alternative announcement, the only way NRIs can vote as of now is by submitting an application for enrolment in form 6A. But as mentioned earlier to cast the vote on the date of the poll, an overseas elector must be physically present at the designated Polling station with his Passport as a document for identification.
The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. We request you to seek https://eci.gov.in/ for any information or specific advice in your own circumstances. We strongly recommend you to refrain from believing any updates regarding General Election 2019 from any other sources other than ECI or news channels.
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India is a vast country and a mystery to most. Those who live in it, those who now live outside of India or those who are just visiting. We, at NRIClub™, serve as a centralized hub of information for the residents, non-residents and travellers who are not familiar with various aspects of this great country.
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