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Why NRIs won’t be able to vote in Bengal, Assam, TN, Kerala, Puducherry elections

Several issues need to be ironed out before the proposal can be implemented, including identification of voters and venues for voting.

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New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC)’s proposal to permit non-resident Indians (NRIs) to cast their votes from overseas through postal ballots could take a bit longer to take off than anticipated.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has told the poll body that “huge logistical challenges” need to be addressed and “a realistic assessment of requirements” needs to be made before the proposal is implemented.

“This Ministry is of the view that a virtual workshop could be organised between the ECI and MEA/Missions officials, after this important decision has been taken and initial assessment made,” the MEA said in a letter to the EC in January. ThePrint has accessed a copy of the letter.

“MEA will be in a better position thereafter to make a realistic assessment of requirements and huge logistical challenges for implementation of this important mammoth exercise… We shall also be able to examine security, legal and other related issues,” it added.

The ministry also said that the EC should consider consulting the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice on the issue.

According to sources in the EC, there are several issues that need to be ironed out before the proposal can be implemented.

While announcing the poll dates for the assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said NRIs would not get the postal ballot facility this time.


Also read: Everyone on election duty to get Covid vaccine before polling day, says EC


Identification of voter, booth security, model code

In November last year, the EC had told the law ministry that the commission is “technically and administratively” ready to extend this facility in the upcoming assembly polls.

Sources said the issues that need to be addressed before the facility is implemented include how NRI electors are enrolled for voting — for which large-scale awareness campaigns need to be carried out — actual facilitation of voting, identification of voters, and venues for voting in case the embassies and consulates are not enough to accommodate all the voters.

“Identification of voters is a big factor since when regular voting takes place, there are several officers of the ECI present at the booth to verify the identity of the voter… In case of NRI voters, it will have to be worked out how their identities are verified,” an EC official said on condition of anonymity.

“Two, representatives of political parties may not be present at the venue of voting, so they can ask questions regarding the identity of voters,” the official said.

In addition, the EC will have to come up with ways to ensure how these venues can be policed and secured.

In India, the EC deploys the Central Armed Police Forces along with police forces of the respective states to maintain law and order and security during polling. But abroad, the EC will have to figure out if they would need the services of the forces of other countries to facilitate polling.

There is also the issue of the Model Code of Conduct, the official added. “Foreign governments are not bound to maintain a silence period before polling, so it will have to be discussed how MCC is not breached,” the official said.

“There can be budget concerns as well…For all these issues, the MEA’s role is crucial, so in the upcoming weeks, meetings will be conducted, and these issues will be discussed,” the official said.


Also read: Plea in Supreme Court challenges EC’s decision to hold polls in 8 phases in West Bengal


 

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