NRIs may soon be able to vote from overseas

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) may be able to cast their votes from their foreign locations soon with the Supreme Court directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to explore the possibility of introducing online voting facility before the counting of votes on May 16.

A division bench headed by Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan gave the direction on Monday while considering a petition filed by UAE resident Dr V.P. Shamsheer. Responding to its notice, the ECI informed the apex court that the NRIs' demand for facility to cast their votes through internet was under its consideration.

However, the commission counsel expressed difficulty in introducing the facility during the current election citing legal and technical issues. A committee would be constituted to study the issues. This would take at least two months. The commission counsel also pointed out difficulties in introducing the facility midway through the election.

However, the court asked whether it was not possible for the commission to provide the facility to the registered voters as the counting would take place only on May 16. The bench directed the ECI to inform its stand on this by Friday.

The apex court had on March 29 directed the commission to explore the possibility of allowing postal ballots to the NRIs. The commission informed the court that it was not possible without amending the People's Representation Act.

As per the current rules, NRIs now can vote only in their constituencies. This regulation discouraged the NRIs from enrolling their names in the voters' list. Out of the 10 million expats spread all over the world, only 11,844 have registered as voters. Of this, 97 per cent are from Kerala, which is going to polls on April 10.

Dr Shamsheer, a healthcare professional from the southern state, wanted the court to strike down the clause in the amended People's Representation Act that insists on the physical presence of NRIs in their constituency to cast their vote to enable NRIs to make use of the voting right granted to them by the government in 2010.

He termed the provision discriminatory and violative of fundamental rights. He submitted that a total number of over 10 million people will be entitled to cast their vote if NRIs are allowed to vote from overseas. His petition said that 114 countries have adopted external voting and amongst it 20 are Asian countries.

Meanwhile, a chartered flight carrying 176 registered NRI voters from Dubai arrived in the state on Monday. The voters brought by the UAE-based Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, a political arm of the Indian Union Muslim League, were given a warm reception at the Karipur airport.

Most of them, who are political activists, will be fanning out into various constituencies to canvas votes for the ruling United Democratic Front candidates. Their campaign is considered crucial since the kin of NRIs numbering about two million forms a large chunk of voters in the state.

The campaigning in all the 20 constituencies in the state will come to an on Tuesday. The UDF campaign reached crescendo on Monday, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed two election rallies at Trichur and Calicut. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi pepped up the campaign on Sunday and Saturday respectively.

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• India