No proposal is under consideration of the government to provide proxy voting facility to NRIs, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"...no such proposal is under consideration," said Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in a written reply while responding to a question on whether the government is considering to provide the facility of proxy voting to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
In August, 2018, the previous Lok Sabha had passed a bill to allow proxy voting rights to eligible overseas Indians. But the bill could not be brought in Rajya Sabha.
In 2020, the Election Commission had proposed to the Law Ministry to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) facility, so far available only to service voters, to eligible overseas Indian voters as well.
It would require changes in the election rules. But the government has so far not taken a call on the issue.
The EC had told the government that it has been receiving several representations from the Indian diaspora residing abroad to facilitate voting through postal ballots since such overseas electors are not in a position to be present in their polling area as travelling to India for this purpose is a costly affair, and they cannot leave the country of their residence owing to specific compulsions of employment, education or other engagements.
As of now, overseas Indians have to register as voter, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad and cast their votes.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Jaipur Fire News | CCTV Captures Jaipur Fire Tragedy: 8 Dead, Many Critical After Truck Collision
"Rahul Gandhi Obsessed With Businessman, Stalled Parliament": Kiren Rijiju To NDTV "Pushing Around An MP Not 'Mardangi'": Kiren Rijiju's Swipe At Rahul Gandhi Anurag Thakur Hits Ton As Lok Sabha Beats Rajya Sabha In Charity Cricket Match 11 Dead, Many Critical In Jaipur Fire As 2 Trucks Collide Outside Petrol Pump Atul Subhash's Mother Goes To Top Court For 4-Year-Old Grandson's Custody 52 kg Gold, Rs 10 Crore Cash Found In Abandoned Innova In Bhopal Jungle Study Abroad: Important Tests To Prepare For Admission In The US UGC NET December 2024 Begins On January 3, Check Subject-Wise Schedule 3-Day State Mourning In Haryana Over Ex-CM Om Prakash Chautala's Death Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.