LS election : 12,000 NRIs enroll for voting, Kerala on top


Daijiworld Media Network - SHS
(With inputs from TOI)


New Delhi, Mar 11: First in the history of world's largest elections, non-residential Indians will involve in the process of elections by franchising their votes.

According Times of India reports around 12,000 NRIs have enrolled their names through post for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However on the polling day voters have to travel to their respective constituencies to cast the votes.

The Times of India, english language daily has published these details on Monday, March 10 Among NRI voters enrollment, 11,488 from Kerala registered their names signaling bulk migration pattern and political awareness among the Keralites. Meanwhile Tamil Nadu has shown less interest, with only 112 NRIs enrolling the name and Punjab stood close to latter state with registration anywhere around 138.

"Most of the Keralites migrate to Gulf countries. Alongside level of political awareness within the Kerala citizens is considerably more than in the other States in the country" said UAE based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust chairman K V Shamsudheen to TOI

Following the amendment of The Representation of the People Bill in 2010, citizens of India living abroad were given a
chance to register as voters. As of May 2012, the ministry of overseas Indian affairs put the number of NRIs at more than a crore, and the overseas Indian community (which includes NRIs and people of Indian origin) at 2.5 crore.

According to the election commission's norm, an NRI is eligible to cast the vote if he/she does not hold the citizenship of any other country. And the constituency to franchise the vote for an NRI, will be the place of residence in India as denoted on the passport. The form to be filled and posted to the electoral registration officer of the constituency is available on the EC website. An NRI will get a letter or an SMS once his or her name is added to the rolls. Even though forms and photocopies of supporting document could be sent by post, it is necessarily must for an NRI to appear in person to cast the vote. Postal ballot, online voting or even polling in the local Indian missions are not an option On the other hand NRIs contend that one has to have procedures to franchise the vote through post, in Indian consulate or in Indian embassy.

"The government should allow us to vote in the Indian consulate or embassy or send our votes by post. It is not possible for 25 million NRIs to travel to their hometowns just to vote," said a spokesperson for NRI Voting Rights, a forum of NRIs in the US. "When we can register online, why not cast our votes online? The EC can introduce extra layers of checks and verification processes," said Shamsudheen. "The government can make use of the details such as fingerprints and iris scans that we have already given for Aadhar registration so that we can vote from the place where we are working, he said

Larger state seems to have less political conscious citizens compared To the smaller ones. Whooping 11,488 registration from Kerala also testify this fact.  At least 56 citizens from Puducherry who are living in France have enrolled themselves, while 27 voters from Goa are on the rolls. New Delhi and Maharashtra have 13 NRI voters each, while the rest of the states have just one each.

"The Election Commission has made it easy for NRIs to register as voters by explaining on its website the procedure to be followed. The manner of voting has to be decided by the government and it may take time," said an EC official.

  

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Comment on this article

  • William, Bantwal

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    NRI Indians can visit their embassies and vote. Or Indian embassies can some schools on Fridays and ask them to vote. These boxes can be taken away to India for counting votes. One vote costing AED 500/-.

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    I think this is not to change the country but to get Voters ID which is required for lot of things as an ID

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ashwin, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    A reason to vote , a reason to fly or a reason to bring more gold into the country ? :P

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    What about you Ismail Perinje?

    Your vote is very important for world's most corrupt political party

    DisAgree [6] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • India First, India

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Enrolled NRI's must be given option to vote in the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate.... I dont think all enrolled NRI's will travel to India only for voting !!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Pereira, Nagoya, Japan

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Only enrolling doesn't mean they really travel to cast their votes.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Udaya Kumar, Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Dear Jossie I fully agree with your opinion/saying. We are not fool to travel to our native place for a vote to elect politicians who are least bothered about general public who are facing lot of problems in daily life because of present dirty politics.

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Great involvment of NRI's belonging to Kerala in enrolling for voting in good number.Really good sign and hope others too follow them.All the best.Thanq.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossie Mascarenhas, Bajpe / Dubai

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    This is another reason why I am totally put off from this stupid Congress. During most of the post-independence 60 years Cong has been in power and it could not come out with some system to enable the NRI’s vote from their country of residence ? What a paradox.

    And what for the Election Commission there ? Can’t they do something? They want us to travel down to India to vote. To choose some good for nothing, corrupt, pot bellied, criminal and communal politicians to power ?

    We are simply treated like use and throw tissue paper.

    We request respected Mr. MR Vasudeva, what are your views on this issue, if you can help ? Whether yes or not, our votes are guaranteed sir.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    OO OO Whad myaan! Gerala boyzz prezzing disyagree buttonzaa?
    Nomber ligely do increazaa?
    Dis nod change anydhing Oge?
    Boyzz- Gentzz- Rund-uzelezz cadegory
    oge?? Onlee bcoz of lovelee gurlz
    gerala top oge?

    DisAgree [14] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • juliet mascarenhas, bejai mangalore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Where are our DESH BHakth/Desh Premi Karnataka NRI commentators?
    Dhoka,Dhoka,Dhoka.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Yes ...
    And there are no 'Mini Mini's'
    Also from Kerala Commenting...
    We miss Sir Jaimini
    Mini Mini Jai Mini
    We Want Jaimini
    We Want Jaimini....
    Two T Two T Two T
    Mom T Mom T Mom T
    We Want Mamooty
    (I mean if there's somebody by name Mamooty in the Gulf or elsewhere, please respond.We have the legendary actor here no problem!)

    DisAgree [8] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • ESKEY, UDUPI

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    By any chance Bhandarkarmam, you know an English word which contains one 'G' and 4 'T's in it?
    can anybody solve this riddle?

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • ESKEY, UDUPI

    Wed, Mar 12 2014

    No one? so sad
    the answer is Originality

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    NRIs were upset with the Situation of india since last 10 years. This time they want a change in their mathrubhoomi.

    DisAgree [26] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nazim Khan, dubai

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Mostly all NRI's are educated. . If more nri votes, it's a blow to bjp

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Whad man!Oh!Gwad!
    Hyere olso Gerala -No.Onna!
    Onlee Females arr Tops Gerala, boyz simbly orrible..Gud por nodhing fellowws....

    DisAgree [21] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Positive news, no doubt malyalees are politically conscious people.
    God Bless UK(united kerala)

    DisAgree [3] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shakeel, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Good one Mr. Bhandarkar.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Learn to respect fellow Indians mate...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Mar 11 2014

    Rakesh....Me?
    Read it(your advice) 5 times before and after mate and you will come to know it gives some confusing meaning.
    Think you should have written 'buddy' instead of mate in your sentence.
    You think I do not respect Keralites? O.K. Sorry!
    There's one thing also Rakesh- Whom do you enjoy with most and
    make fun of? Your bosom friends
    and pals right? Same the case with
    me mate! Why will I pull a 'foreigner's leg'? Got my point?
    You do not know my rapport with Mallu's! In any case if you are offended-Sorry-once again.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: LS election : 12,000 NRIs enroll for voting, Kerala on top



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