Election Commission denies postal ballot facility for NRIs in the coming elections

Indians living abroad have to wait more for casting their votes through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS).

According to reports, the Indian Election commission has denied NRIs permission to vote through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in the coming assembly polls in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Responding to a question on whether the facility of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) would be extended to overseas voters in these assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said, “No,” a report by the Economic Times said.

“As far as NRI voters are concerned, the commission (EC) has sent a very empathetic and very positive note to the Law Ministry over a month-and-a-half back over finding a way out for that. The law ministry referred it to the Ministry of External Affairs. I spoke to the foreign secretary also. They have responded in detail and they have said we should have a broad spectrum meeting of the stakeholders,” he said.

Voting for the five assembly elections will begin on March 27, with West Bengal having eight phases continuing till April 29, while counting of votes will be done on May 2.