Bill to enable NRIs register names in electoral rolls

Bowing to the persistent demand for voting rights from Indians living outside the country, the government today introduced a Bill in the Rajya Sabha to enable them to register their names in the electoral rolls.

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2010, introduced by Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, seeks to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

The fresh Bill was aimed at providing Indians, who have not acquired the citizenship of any other country and are away, entitlements to have their names registered in the electoral rolls.

Their names will figure in the constituencies in which their place of residence falls, as mentioned in the passport.

The central government would specify, after consulting the Election Commission, the time within which the name of the persons shall be registered in the electoral rolls.

The government had introduced a Bill in this regard in 2006 in the Upper House and the same was referred to the concerned Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The Committee had accepted the Bill in letter and spirit and recommended for bringing a comprehensive Bill with regard to enrollment of non-resident Indians, the mode of voting and the conditionalities for contesting elections.

Accordingly, the government has decided to withdraw the 2006 Bill and introduced the fresh Bill.

There have been persistent demands from a large number of citizens of India residing outside the country for voting rights.