Ordinary residence
Also called: Ordinarily resident · Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Ordinary residence is a condition for getting on the voters' list. Under ss.19-20 of the Representation of the People Act 1950, a person can enrol only in the constituency where they normally live. Owning a house or land there is not enough on its own. A person can be enrolled in only one constituency. This keeps the roll linked to where people actually live and stops people from enrolling in more than one place.
Example
A person owns a flat in Delhi but has lived and worked in Pune for years. They should be enrolled in Pune, where they ordinarily live, not in Delhi just because they own property there.
Don't confuse with
- Overseas elector: an Indian citizen living abroad who can enrol at the address in their passport under s.20A, even though they do not live there now.
Related concepts
- Representation of the People Act 1950
- Electoral roll
- Qualifying date
- Overseas elector
- Electoral Registration Officer
- Booth Level Officer
- Summary revision of electoral rolls
- Special Intensive Revision
- Electors Photo Identity Card