RIGHT TO VOTE FOR NON-RESIDENT INDIANS

Section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which defines ordinarily resides, disqualifies Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from being eligible to registered voters. To rectify this, the Representation of the People (Amendment) 2006 Bill was introduced in the Parliament, on the 17 of February 2006, with the objective of amending the aforesaid Section 20. However, no action has been taken on the Bill yet.

The term of the 14th Lok Sabha expires in May 2009. If the amendments to the Representation of the People Act are not enacted before the expiry of the term of the current government the Bill will  go into suspension. The new government and Parliament will have to take up the issue afresh again, not to mention that the Indian diaspora will yet again be devoid of its right to vote in the General elections of the country.

We, therefore need to ensure at the earliest that the:

·     Ministry of Law and Justice revises the draft Bill now pending before Parliament, immediately

·     The revised Bill should then be introduced in Parliament and enacted as a priority in the upcoming budget session of the Parliament (budget session of 2009)

·        All Indian High Commissions and Embassies register non-resident Indians in their territory and liaise with the election commission in India to ensure that all non-resident Indians have their list on the electoral roll

·        The proxy voting system granted to the members of the armed forces, be granted to non-resident Indians in time to participate in the next general elections due in 2009

To help us get the Bill enacted please sign this petition.