Mr. Naveen Jindal Meets Chief Election Commissioner on Absentee Voting

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf

New Delhi: Mr Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), met the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.V.S Sampat, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. He said that Indian democracy is based on the basic framework of ensuring the right to vote of all citizens who are eligible to vote. But in practice, the enforcement of this right is undermined by the existing legal and regulatory regime.

In his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the MP from Kurukshetra reiterated his concern on the fact that there are no provisions in Indian law to enable migrant workers within India (estimated to be over 100 millions), students studying abroad (more than 80,000 per annum go to US alone), travelling business professionals and senior or unwell citizens who may not be able to travel to the polling booth, to vote in an alternative manner. Subsequently, he raised the point that while voting right was granted to the citizens of India, who are living abroad but have not acquired Citizenship of any other country; however, after getting registered with the local Electoral Registration Officer by making application in Form 6, they have to be physically present at the polling booth on the day of the election to register their vote. Mr Jindal mentioned that the Government, in its reply to a question raised by him in Loksabha on 21.03.2013, stated that only 13 overseas electors voted in the legislative assembly elections of 5 States i.e. Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh, held in the year 2012. 

Mr. Jindal again stressed that in the true spirit of Indian democracy, it is imperative that the country now expands the postal ballot system to allow all Indian citizens to exercise their right to vote by post or any other form of absentee voting, such as Internet voting, proxy voting, etc. as is being done in other countries. 

He pointed out that India already has a limited form of postal voting but it is not accessed by enough people to create a meaningful impact towards making the electoral process more inclusive. Section 60(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 provides for Election Commission to notify a class of persons, in consultation with the Government, to be entitled to exercise their right to vote by way of postal ballot. So Election Commission can, in consultation with the Government, notify overseas Indians, migrant workers, students studying abroad, unwell and senior citizens “as a class of persons” to whom the right to vote by way of postal ballot can be extended.

Mr Jindal conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner that the purpose of this effort is to make the electoral process in India far more inclusive and far less cumbersome, so that each and every Indian is able to exercise not only the right to vote, but also have the opportunity to vote. 

The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the Election Commission will look into feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of voters.

It may be noted that Mr. Jindal has been pursuing this matter relentlessly for several years. He has been constantly raising this issue inside and outside the Parliament and has also made representations to the Ministry of Law and Justice & Election Commission. 

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46563#sthash.mVA8hCii.dpuf