Overseas elector
Also called: NRI voter, Section 20A · Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
An overseas elector is an Indian citizen who lives abroad and enrols as a voter at the Indian address in their passport. This was allowed by s.20A of the Representation of the People Act 1950, added in 2010. Such a voter is an exception to the normal rule that you must ordinarily live in the constituency. But the overseas elector must come to the polling station and vote in person. They cannot vote from abroad.
Example
An Indian citizen working in Dubai, with a Kerala address in their passport, can enrol in that Kerala constituency. To vote, they must be at their polling station in Kerala on polling day.
Don't confuse with
- Service voter: someone in the armed forces or a government job abroad. A service voter can vote by post (including through the ETPBS) or, in some cases, by proxy. An overseas elector must vote in person.
Related concepts
- Representation of the People Act 1950
- Electoral roll
- Qualifying date
- Ordinary residence
- Electoral Registration Officer
- Booth Level Officer
- Summary revision of electoral rolls
- Special Intensive Revision
- Electors Photo Identity Card