(Image source from: fiib.edu.in)

The Election Commission on Thursday said Non Resident Indian voters have not been extended right to cast their votes online in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

According to report in Times of India, Election commission spokesperson responded to the news reports which said that Indian expats can cast their votes online in the upcoming general elections, he said that no such facility has been extended to them up till now

“If it happens, it needs amendment to the Representation of the People Act. No such amendment has taken place,” the spokesperson said.

At present, the general procedure is Indians residing in other countries have to register as voter, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad and cast vote.

According to official estimates of the ministry of external affairs, there are about 3.10 crore NRIs living in different countries across the world.

A committee of the Election Commission had said no to online voting for NRIs but approved proxy voting.

A bill has been prepared to extend proxy voting rights to NRIs was passed in Lok Sabha recently but is pending in Rajya Sabha.

The Present bill will lapse as lok Sabha will dissolve this May. 

-Sai Kumar