How Can Non Resident Indians (NRIs) Cast Their Vote in India?

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are set to begin in India quite soon, and the question of whether Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can participate in the electoral process of their home country, India, has long been a topic of discussion and debate. With millions of NRIs residing across the globe, their potential inclusion in the democratic exercise holds significant implications for Indian democracy and the representation of its diaspora community.

How Can NRIs Cast Their Vote in India Elections 2024?

In recent years, there have been notable steps towards accommodating NRIs in the electoral process. In terms of voting participation for non-residents, there are several avenues available.

One option is for NRIs to vote at the relevant electoral booths, a practice already sanctioned. However, NRIs must register through Form 6A for this privilege. Under this arrangement, NRIs must physically be present in India on the day of voting and personally cast their ballots at the electoral booth. During voting, NRIs are required to carry both their Voter ID cards and passports as identification.

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Another approach, potentially viable for the 2024 elections, is proxy voting. In August 2018, the government enacted an amendment to the People's Representation Act, 1951, allowing NRIs to vote via proxy. Under this system, NRIs must designate a relative in India who is also eligible to vote to cast their ballots on their behalf. The resident Indian can exercise this proxy vote at their discretion on behalf of the NRI.

The PRS Legislative Research mentions: “The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Law and Justice, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad on December 18, 2017.  The Bill seeks to amend the Representation of People Act, 1950 and the Representation of People Act, 1951 to allow for proxy voting and to make certain provisions of the Acts gender-neutral.”

“The 1951 Act permits an overseas voter to vote only in person.  An overseas voter is a citizen of India who is absent from his place of ordinary residence in India.  The Bill seeks to amend the 1951 Act to permit an overseas voter to cast their vote in person or by proxy in the constituency where the poll is taken,” it adds.

This move was hailed as a significant step towards empowering NRIs to exercise their franchise and contribute to the democratic process.

However, despite these provisions, challenges remain in facilitating NRI participation in Indian elections. One of the primary obstacles is the logistical complexity of enabling voting mechanisms for NRIs scattered across the globe. 

In response to these challenges, the Indian government has explored various options to facilitate NRI voting, including electronic voting and proxy voting mechanisms. Efforts have also been made to streamline the registration process and enhance outreach to NRIs, encouraging greater engagement with the electoral process.

As India continues its journey towards strengthening its democratic institutions and expanding the horizons of political participation, the question of NRI voting rights will remain a constant aspect of the country's electoral landscape. 

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