POSTAL VOTING

Subject: Governance

Context  : The Election Commission’s (EC) proposal to grant postal voting rights to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) may get implemented first for voters based in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, France and South Africa.

Concept:

• A restricted set of voters can exercise postal voting. Through this facility, a voter can cast her vote remotely by recording her preference on the ballot paper and sending it back to the election officer before counting.
• Ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.

  People who can avail this facility at present

• Members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy and Air Force, members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India and their spouses are entitled to vote only by post.
• The exception to the above-mentioned category of voters is provided under Section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

  Representation of the People Act, 1951:

• This act provides for the actual conduct of elections in India. It deals with the following matters:
• Details like Qualification and Disqualification of members of both the Houses of Parliament and the State Legislatures,
• Administrative machinery for conducting elections,
• Registration of Political parties,
• Conduct of Elections,
• Election Disputes,
• Corrupt practices & Electoral offences, &
• By-elections.