The Indian embassy announced on Tuesday that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) living in Qatar can get their names registered on the electoral rolls as NRI voters in their constituencies to enable them to become part of the election process.
In a statement the embassy explained: "Under Section 20A of the Representation of People Act, 1950 and rules made thereunder, every citizen of India - (a) whose name is not included in the electoral roll; (b) who has not acquired the citizenship of any other country; and (c) who is absent from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education or otherwise outside India, is entitled to have his/her name registered in the electoral roll as an "overseas elector" in the constituency in his/her place of residence in India as mentioned in his/her passport.
"The application for this purpose can be filed in the prescribed form in person before the Electoral Registration Officer concerned or sent by post or can be filed online on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned or the website of the Election Commission of India (eci.nic.in). After getting enrolled in the electoral roll, such a person can cast his/her vote in India during the Assembly or Parliamentary elections at the respective polling stations, after showing his/her valid Indian passport."
