Remote voting-Shorter term overseas migrants should be able to avail the postal ballot system

Source: The post is based on the article “Remote voting-Shorter term overseas migrants should be able to avail the postal ballot system” published in The Hindu on 5th November 2022. 

Syllabus: GS2- Salient features of the Representation of People Act 

Relevance: Voting system.

News: The article explains the issue of allowing postal ballot facility to overseas citizens. This is important as India has a large diaspora population of 1.35 crore. 

What is the present voting system for overseas citizens? 

Currently, ECI allows enrolled overseas citizens to vote in person at the constituency where they are registered as a voter. 

What are the issues with the present system? 

The necessity to vote in person and the costs associated with overseas citizens have acted as a disincentive for their wanting to exercise their mandate. This was evident in the numbers of such voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. It was 25606 against 99,844 registered electors. 

What is the stand of ECI? 

In 2014, a committee constituted by the ECI to probe methods to enable overseas voters’ mandates concluded that proxy voting was the most viable. Some political parties objected to the idea.  

A Bill was passed in the 16th Lok Sabha to enable proxy voting but it lapsed.  

In 2020, the ECI approached the Government to permit NRIs to vote via postal ballots, similar to the system already used by service voters. 

Why is allowing postal ballots a good move? 

Several overseas countries allow this option to their overseas citizens. This is a better method of registering their vote rather than appointing a proxy. Proxy is allowed in case of service personnel who are limited in number. On other hand, NRIs are substantial in numbers. 

In the 2014 discussion organised by the ECI, some parties raised a question, how NRIs will get the benefit which is denied to internal migrant workers. But the higher costs of travel back to India, as opposed to travelling within justify this move