Parliamentary Panel to Table Report on NRI Voting Rights on Thursday

A parliamentary panel, chaired by Shashi Tharoor, is scheduled to table a report on Thursday advocating for voting rights for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) through proxy voting or electronic ballot systems. The report emphasizes the need for a unified definition of "non-resident Indians" (NRIs), as the term is used differently across various laws. The panel observed that NRIs' electoral rights appear sidelined, with current rules requiring NRIs on the voter list to be physically present to vote. The committee also highlighted that enabling NRI voting would require amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as well as consultations with national political parties before implementation. The panel urges the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the issue with the Law Ministry and the Election Commission of India. Implementing NRI voting would require amending the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and consulting political parties.