NRIs Can Now Cast Their Vote in 2019 Indian General Elections
January 12, 2019 07:54(Image source from: www.financialexpress.com)
In a piece of good news for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), you can now be able to vote in the 2019 Indian general elections.
Through the official website of the Election Commission of India, an NRI can register as a voter .
In the website, if you click on the button titled 'Enroll as NRI voter', it takes you to a form that needs to be filled and submitted to register as a voter in the 2019 general elections.
About 31 million NRIs around the world will be benefited, who are unable to cast their vote since they are no longer a resident of India.
In the form, there is a list of guidelines that need to be adhered to. The form clearly states that Indians who have acquired citizenships of other countries will not be eligible.
This provision has come about after a bill to amend the electoral law to allow NRIs to vote came up before the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament earlier this year.
Related Content: Bill Granting Voting Rights to NRIs Blocked in Rajya Sabha
Overseas Indians are currently free to cast their votes if they are physically present in the constituencies where they are registered.
An official announcement on this has not been made by the authorities yet.
The tenure of Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance will end on May 26, 2019, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be held sometime around April and May.
-Sowmya Sangam