Resident Indians (NRIs) might be able to exercise their voting rights by next parliamentary general election in 2014, said Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Chief Election Commission of India currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia. Quraishi is visiting Riyadh on an invitation from Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys' Association (AMUOBA) that organized Sir Syed Day in Riyadh Thursday. Around 500 Alighar University alumni and their families attended the event. Quraishi was the chief guest on the occasion. Sayeed Naqvi, a renowned Indian journalist, was the guest of honor while Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed presided over the function. Quraishi said the CEC has been actively engaged to explore possibilities of NRIs voting rights, particularly after Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made a commitment to the NRIs during his speech earlier this year at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi. “The CEC is now examining all possibilities that NRIs would get an opportunity to cast their votes during the forthcoming parliamentary general elections,” Quraishi told Saudi Gazette in an exclusive interview. Quraishi described the NRIs voting process as a complex issue. For instance, he said there are about two million Indians from various constituencies living in Saudi Arabia. It would not be possible for the election commission to arrange polling for voters from different constituencies, he said. The second option on the table is postal balloting, he said. The EC has been managing postal balloting for defense personnel and diplomats posted in foreign Indian missions, he explained. He said the Election Commission (EC) of India has been holding talks with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs to develop a strategy that can lead to the implementing of NRIs voting rights. After consultations with Overseas Affairs Ministry are completed, the EC would send its teams to discuss the issue with foreign Indian missions and try to get NRIs feedback, he said. Quraishi said the EC has started enrolling NRI voters that would allow them to cast their ballots while in India during the election time. The NRIs can enroll based on the documented proof such as passport, ration card or driving license and get a photo voter ID card, he said. “The step will allow the NRIs to cast their ballots while in India during election time. This far we are prepared but beyond this is still under consultation,” he said.
