Will NRI Voting Come in Time to Help BJP and TDP?

The Union Government is all set to table a Bill in the next Parliament session to extend the facility of e-voting to Non-Resident Indians (NRI) before the General Elections. As a result, a draft bill will be put before the union cabinet very soon.

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The center has informed this to the Supreme Court making it official. This kind of voting is prevalent in various countries where people living in other countries are allowed to vote with various options like voting in Embassies, Postal Ballot, Online Voting etc. NRIs do have a vote in India but the Election commission insists on physical presence which is becoming a hindrance for NRI participation.

The Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 will have to be amended to allow NRIs to vote without having to fly down to their hometown during the elections. All the NRIs to exercise the e-voting will have to possess an Indian passport. There is an estimated 25 million NRIs across the world, very minute percentage of them actually fly down to vote.

Political experts say this move will immensely benefit for BJP at the center and TDP in the state. But the big question is there is enough time to implement this before 2019 elections. Congress which currently has a majority in Rajya Sabha will also try to stall this bill in the Upper House.