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
