New Delhi: The provision to allow e-voting by NRI’s will be a reality soon with the Modi government making a statement before the supreme court on Wednesday ,that the Union Cabinet would soon consider a draft bill to make the change before it is laid down in the Parliament .
“The government is planning to extend the facility to the armed forces personnel and their families serving away from their native place, including countries abroad,” Additional Solicitor General PL Narasimha submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu.
In the past few years, only a small proportion of NRIs have been coming to India to vote, given the expense and time involved.
The apex court bench has directed the government to enable e-voting by NRIs within two months after making necessary amendments to the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, which deals with elections in the country. Once this is allowed, the NRIs (non-resident Indians) will not have to fly home in order to vote during elections.
The government told the court that it has approved e-ballot voting for Indian passport holders abroad, recommended by the Election Commission in a report, and it would have the process in place after amending laws.
