NRIs can Cast Their Proxy Vote from Overseas
- Government of India announced that NRIs now have the right to vote from abroad in elections in India through proxy voting
- The Indian Cabinet approved amendments in electoral laws on 2nd August, 2017, that will allow around 10 million NRIs across the globe to vote from abroad to elect state and central governments
- Of around 10 million NRIs, only 24,348 of them have registered as voters and only around 10,000 go to India for voting
- Although the Election Commission had proposed two options such as proxy voting and e-postal ballot, the cabinet chose the former
- An Indian citizen who stays abroad for employment/business or vocation outside India, or stays abroad for an uncertain duration of time is considered a non-reside
- Every state and central election in India is conducted once in every five years, though the Presidential election is conducted once every three years
- India has 7 national political parties, 49 official state parties and 35 unrecognised parties
- Overseas electors will have to appoint a nominee afresh for each election in India — one person can act as proxy for only one overseas voter
- NRI voters residing abroad can only cast their votes in their respective constituencies
