NRIs can enrol names in voters' list by post

DUBAI, 28 February 2011 (KT): Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from states going for elections in the coming months have been given the option of getting their names enrolled in the electoral list in person or by post as the preliminary procedure to exercise their franchise, it was announced on Sunday.

With the amendments in the Representation of the People's Act, 2010, overseas electors can exercise their franchise by being present in their respective constituencies at the time of elections. However, those wishing to enrol themselves in the voters' list will have to secure attested copies of their passports from the Indian missions here and submit them along with their application forms.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Indian Consulate in Dubai said notifications have been issued under Rule 8A of Electors Rules, 1960 by the Chief Electoral Officers of the states going for elections - West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

"Every overseas elector whose place of residence in India is located in any of the states mentioned above and has completed 18 years of age as on 01-01-2011 and is desirous of registering his/her name in the electoral roll can submit claim application in Form-6A for registration," the Consulate said.

Form-6A, along with the guidelines and addresses of the registration officers of each of the constituencies are available on the website http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/nri/nri.asp

The consulate said applications may either be submitted in person directly to the registration officer of the constituency concerned or sent to such registration officer by post.

"When the application is sent by post, it should be accompanied by photocopies of the relevant pages of the passport duly attested by the competent official of the Consulate General of India, Dubai," it said.

The option for postal registration is expected to address the concern by a large number of NRIs about the procedure. Many had expressed fears that it would be made mandatory for them to be present in India even for getting their names registered in the electoral roll.

A spokesperson of the consulate clarified that the attestation procedures for the election purpose are no different from the attestation of travel documents for various government services requiring verification of data and these services are not outsourced to the Indian Passport and Visa Application Centres that receive applications for other passport and visa services.

The official said NRIs in Dubai and Northern Emirates could visit the attestation counters at the consulate auditorium between 8am and 12 noon on working days. Those in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain should visit the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi for attestation services.

BY: Sajila Saseendran, Khaleejtimes