Live
- Chanchalguda Jail Officials Say They Haven't Received Bail Papers Yet, Allu Arjun May Stay in Jail Tonight
- BJP leaders present evidence of illegal voters in Delhi, urge EC for swift action
- Exams will not be cancelled: BPSC chairman
- Nagesh Trophy: Karnataka, T.N win in Group A; Bihar, Rajasthan triumph in Group B
- YS Jagan condemns the arrest of Allu Arjun
- Economic and digital corridors to maritime connectivity, India and Italy building vision for future, says Italian Ambassador
- SMAT 2024: Patidar's heroics guide Madhya Pradesh to final after 13 years
- CCPA issues notices to 17 entities for violating direct selling rules
- Mamata expresses satisfaction over speedy conviction in minor girl rape-murder case
- Transparent Survey Process for Indiramma Housing Scheme Directed by District Collector
NRIs shy away from electoral rolls
Despite a major push for electoral reforms to encourage NRIs to participate in government formation by exercising their franchise there’s hardly a palpable response from the diaspora of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
e-voting will encourage persons abroad to vote in elections
Hyderabad: Despite a major push for electoral reforms to encourage NRIs to participate in government formation by exercising their franchise there’s hardly a palpable response from the diaspora of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
It is said that a family member from every third house is abroad! But it is difficult to assess how many of the registered Telugus on electoral rolls are abroad. It is shocking to note how many of the Telugu NRIs have registered. It is just a dozen! Out of which eight are from Andhra Pradesh and four from Telangana.
“Non-resident Indians can register their votes online using Form 6A. After registering they can participate in the election. But they have to come here and vote,” said Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Bhanwar Lal.
The catch is their physical presence in order to participate in elections. How many of the NRIs would voluntary to come here just to exercise their franchise considering their career and family pressures?
A non-resident citizen of India, who is not included in the electoral roll, and who is absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education or otherwise is eligible to be registered as a voter in the constituency in which his place of residence in India as mentioned in his passport is located. The Election Commission of India facilitates and encourages more NRIs to get their names registered on the electoral rolls on its website www.eci.nic.in But not many NRIs are aware of this facility.
“I have voted in the past during Indira Gandhi days. I could not vote ever since I came to the US. I surely would like to exercise my franchise in future since visits are planned with multi-purpose activities. But most of the time our visits do not coincide with the elections. e-voting is an awesome option. I fully endorse it,” said Dr Saibaba Arcot Mahendra, Educator in Atlanta, USA, who teaches Epidemiology & Advanced Biology.
The registrations are likely to be low till the Centre clears e-voting for NRIs. Hopefully the e-option is cleared by next general election. Software techie Chitti Pacharu, who works in Seattle for last nine years, was enrolled in India 20 years ago. “The last time I voted was in 2004 general election. I could not vote in any of the election ever since I came here.” Now, he is not even aware of his electoral status.
California-based senior IT professional Manohar Lal, has been staying in the US for over 15 years. He could not vote in any of the Indian elections. “Though I am aware that I could register online, I believe that I am not allowed to vote in Indian election since I’m a US citizen now.” To put to rest the doubts which arise in the minds of NRIs like Manohar, forums such as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas could clear the air of the Indian diaspora.
