Election Commission proposes to extend the facility of postal ballots to overseas and NRIs
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Constitution
In news
The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to the Law Ministry, proposing to extend the facility of postal ballots to (eligible) overseas, non-resident Indians (NRIs) for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in 2021.
Key takeaways
The ECI proposed amending the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, in order to allow this facility.
The postal ballots will be sent to NRIs electronically and they will send these ballots after choosing their candidate via post.
This partially electronic facility is now available for service voters (being a member of the armed Forces of the Union; or a member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950) through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, or ETPBS.
Do you know?
How can overseas voters currently vote in Indian elections?
Prior to 2010, an Indian citizen who is an eligible voter and was residing abroad for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise, would not have been able to vote in elections.
After the passing of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2010, eligible NRIs who had stayed abroad beyond six months have been enabled to vote, but only in person at the polling station where they have been enrolled as an overseas elector.
