(a) whether the Government has proposed to give voting rights to Non- Resident Indians (NRIs);
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of NRIs likely to get voting rights; and
(c) the time by which the NRIs are likely to get voting rights?
MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a): Yes, Sir. Gazette Notification has been issued giving voting rights to
Non-Resident Indians.
(b) & (c ): Citizens of India who have not acquired the citizenship of any other country
and are living abroad owing to employment, education or otherwise, are now eligible to register
their names in the electoral rolls in the constituency of the address shown in their passport
and to vote when they are present at the time polls are held. It is estimated that there are
about 11 million NRIs. The Election Commission of India is likely to finalize in the near
future the rules and regulations prescribing the modalities for NRIs to enter their names as
voters in the Electoral Rolls of the concerned constituency. Thereafter, NRIs’ will be able
to register themselves and exercise their voting rights.