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NRKs likely to vote in the local body polls in Kerala

Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) may be able to have a say in the formation of the next local bodies in Kerala.

Although the Supreme Court is yet to take a final decision on the mode of voting, the state government has initiated steps to introduce facility for NRKs to exercise their franchise from their overseas locations in the polls to be held next year.

The government is focusing on proxy voting, which is one of the two modes of voting proposed by the Election Commission. The other is e-postal ballots. The government does not think e-ballots will be practical as it involves applying for ballot papers six months in advance and sending them by post to the returning officers.

The proxy voting system, on the other hand, allows NRIs to vote for a candidate he prefers through a proxy in his constituency. A final decision on the mode of voting is expected to be taken by the apex court during the next hearing on January 5.

The government is trying to provide a legal framework for the proxy voting so that it can be implemented during the coming local body polls. The local self-government department has already started drafting an ordinance so that it can be promulgated soon after the apex court gives its nod to the Election Commission’s proposal. The panel is expected to inform the court whether an amendment is required in the People’s Representation Act for introducing the overseas voting. The petitioner, who is UAE-based Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, had argued that it could be introduced through a notification.

However, the law department is of the opinion the amendment was must for proxy voting. The legal advice provided by the department to the election panel says that only e-postal ballots could be introduced through notification. The election panel is expected to convey its final position on the issue at the next hearing.

If the apex court approve the new system, it would provide an opportunity to nearly 2.5 million Keralites living abroad to participate in the polling process in the local body polls to be held in September 2015.

Though the expats were accorded their right to exercise their franchise in the polls in the country through an amendment in the Representation of People Act in 2010, only a little over 13, 000 NRIs had registered themselves as voters.

Shamsheer, who hails from Calicut in north Kerala, attributed the poor response to the restrictive sections in the law in his petition. The law envisaged NRIs to be present in their constituency to cast their votes. Shamsheer argued that voting rights could not be denied to a citizen because he goes out of the country for job or studies.

If a sizeable section of the NRKs exercise their franchise either through proxy voting or e-postal ballots it would seriously impact the poll outcome not only in the local body but also assembly polls since the victory margin in many seats are very narrow.

news@khaleejtimes.com