The Central Election Commission told the Law Ministry that it is “technically and Administratively ready” to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to NRI voters for elections next year in the states including Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Pudhucherry.
The Election Commission has decided to provide an opportunity for expatriates to cast their votes electronically. The Commission has informed the Law Ministry that it is “technically and Administratively ready” to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to NRI voters for elections next year. The NRI’s who wish to cast their vote through the postal ballot should inform the Returning Officer (RO) at least five days after the notification. It is the responsibility of the Returning Officer to dispatch the ballot paper electronically. The voter has to take the print-out of the ballot paper, cast the vote and return it with the certificate of the Indian Embassy staff in the country of residence. It is not yet clear that the ballot paper to be returned via ordinary mail by themselves or drop it off at the Indian Embassy, which may then segregate the envelopes constituency-wise and send them to the Chief Electoral Office of the state concerned for onward transmission to the RO. At present, only postal voting system is the only voting system which can be done other than voting in person. To change this, the Central Government is planning to amend the Election Code of 1961.
