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e-voting for NRIs
In what is bound to be welcome news for more than 11 million Non Resident Indians (NRIs) across the world, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to enable them to cast their vote electronically in the Indian elections within eight weeks.
New Delhi: In what is bound to be welcome news for more than 11 million Non Resident Indians (NRIs) across the world, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to enable them to cast their vote electronically in the Indian elections within eight weeks.
In its reply, the government told the apex court that it had approved e-ballot voting for Indian passport holders abroad as recommended by the Election Commission. It said it would have to amend laws to put the whole process in place. E-voting means a blank postal ballot paper is emailed to the voter, who fills and mails it back to their constituency. Election commission officials said there is little risk of manipulation, rigging or violation of secrecy in this system.
In 2010, the government had allowed NRIs voting rights, but the rules required them to be present in their constituency on the day of voting. The decision was later challenged as being "inherently unequal" after which the Supreme Court asked for a report from the poll panel on it. The NRIs also could not vote if they were out of the country for more than six months at a stretch. Last week, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the government had promised more rights and opportunities to the Indian diaspora.
