NRIs allowed to vote in Assembly polls, but with a rider

New Delhi, Mar 6,2011 (Agencies): Non-Resident Indians hailing from the five poll-bound states will be able to vote in the elections for the first time but they will have to be physically present in their place of origin to exercise their franchise.

The Election Commission has already issued guidelines for enrollment of names of NRIs in the rolls after holding several rounds of discussions with the Ministries of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs.

"Citizens of India living abroad, who have not acquired the citizenship of any other country, can make an application in Form 6A directly to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the constituency within which the place of residence of the applicant as given in the valid passport, falls," said Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

Officials said the Assembly polls in the five States will be the first occasion when NRIs will be allowed to vote in elections in the country even if they stayed for more than six months outside India at a stretch.