Context: Overseas Indian voter participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections remains low despite rising registrations, highlighting challenges and sparking calls for voting reforms for Non-Resident Indians.
Overseas Voters in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections:
- Definition: Overseas voters, officially termed as overseas electors, are Indian citizens residing abroad but registered to vote in their respective constituencies in India.
- Eligibility: Must hold an Indian passport and register in their home constituency’s electoral roll.
- Data (Source: Election Commission of India)
- Registrations:
- 2024: 1,19,374 registered overseas electors (highest in Kerala: 89,839).
- 2019: 99,844 registrations.
- Turnout: Only 2,958 overseas electors voted, with 2,670 from Kerala.
- Registrations:
- Significance: NRIs represent a significant part of India’s global footprint, and their participation strengthens India’s democratic inclusivity.
- Challenges in Participation:
- Travel costs and employment commitments deter voting.
- Current laws require Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote in person, which is restrictive.
- Proposed Reforms:
- Introduction of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for NRIs.
- Proxy voting rights, as proposed in 2018, remain unimplemented.
