Poor electoral participation of overseas Indian voters in LS polls, 2024: EC data  

Overseas Indian voters registered in record numbers but barely turned up to cast their votes in Lok Sabha elections

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Overseas Indians showed great enthusiasm in registering as electors, with nearly 1.2 lakh enrolling in the voter list, but only a fraction of them turned up to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission data reveals a stark contrast between registration numbers and actual participation, reported hindustantimes.com.

Low turnout despite high registration among NRIs

According to the data released by the Election Commission, as many as 1,19,374 overseas Indians registered as electors in 2024, with Kerala leading the registrations at 89,839. This marks an increase from 99,844 in the 2019 elections. However, only 2,958 of these electors returned to India to vote, with 2,670 coming from Kerala alone.

States like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu saw zero participation from their registered overseas electors. Similarly, Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recorded only two voters out of 885 registered NRIs casting their votes. Maharashtra fared slightly better, with 17 out of 5,097 electors exercising their franchise.

Challenges faced by overseas voters

• The data highlights that despite an increase of over 19,500 registered overseas electors since 2019, their participation remains minimal

• As per current electoral laws, registered NRI voters must physically travel to their respective constituencies in India to cast their votes, presenting their original passports for identification

• The costs associated with travel, employment obligations, and educational commitments are significant barriers for many

For instance, Andhra Pradesh had 7,927 registered NRI electors, but only 195 made the journey to vote. Assam, Bihar, and Goa reported no votes from their respective overseas electors, underscoring the widespread challenges.

Proposals for proxy and postal voting

Efforts to address these issues have been ongoing. In August 2018, the 16th Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing proxy voting rights for eligible overseas Indians, but the bill did not progress in the Rajya Sabha. In 2020, the Election Commission proposed extending the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), currently available to service voters, to overseas Indian voters. However, the government has not yet acted on this proposal.

The Election Commission has stated that it continues to receive representations from the Indian diaspora, urging the facilitation of voting through postal ballots. Such a measure could significantly enhance electoral participation among overseas Indians, who have cited logistical and financial constraints as key reasons for their inability to vote in person.

Looking forward

The EC data and ongoing discussions around voting reforms reflect the need for innovative solutions to ensure greater participation from the Indian diaspora in the democratic process. As the world’s largest democracy, India’s electoral framework must evolve to accommodate its globally dispersed citizens.

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