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MPs panel debates proxy voting for migrant workers
Context
If proxy voting is meant to make it easier for NRIs to exercise their franchise and save up on travel costs, then why the same facility shouldn’t be extended to a migrant worker within India? This and many other questions were raised at a meeting of the Parliamentary panel on External Affairs headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor
Meeting headed by Shashi Tharoor deliberates on why electoral provision meant for NRIs should not be extended to others
The committee was briefed on “Voting Rights to NRIs” by MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) and Secretary, Legislative Department.
Amendment to Representation to the People Act
The Cabinet in August last year had cleared an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, which allows NRIs to vote by proxy, a facility only available till now to armed personnel and certain offices notified by the Election Commission
Government’s reply
Cost not the same: It does not cost the same to travel within India compared to flying in from abroad
Proxy voting can be misused: According to sources, except for one BJP MP all others on the panel were unanimous in their opinion that proxy voting can be easily misused.
Data
Data shows that only 10,000 to 12,000 NRIs have voted because they do not want to spend foreign currency to come to India for this purpose.
