No move to enable NRIs vote from outside country

05:39AM Fri 10 Jan, 2014

New Delhi , January 09, 2014:Union Minister Vayalar Ravi today ruled out any move to make provisions for Indians living abroad to vote in elections from outside the country. "As it is today even I can not vote by postal ballot. That is not the system today. If I am in Delhi, I can't vote in Kerala elections from here. I will to go to the booth where my name is registered to vote. I am afraid it is not possible," the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister told a gathering of NRIs at Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. He also added that it is for Election Commission to decide as it is the constitutional authority for election-related affairs. As far as enrolment of names of overseas Indians in electoral rolls is concerned that is being taken up, he said. Overseas Indians holding an Indian passport have long been demanding that they be given rights to vote in elections, saying it is their right and also desirable that they have a say in the political process here.