Indian Government Urges NRIs To Cast Vote In 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

The Election Commission of India has announced the Lok Sabha poll dates and it is scheduled to begin on April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. 

In the country, there are 97 crore of register voters of which 49.7 crore are male voters and 47.1 crore voters are female. Ahead of the 18th Lok Sabha election, the Indian government has now urged all the non-residents of India (NRI) to cast their votes. And it is worth noting that NRIs were not allowed to vote in the elections before 2010. 

Sharing the announcement on X, the Election Commission of India called out on all NRIs to cast their vote for this Lok Sabha election and also shared the step-by-step guidelines to be followed to cast the votes. 

Here’s how NRIs can cast their vote:

• Initially fill out the Form 6A at https://voterportal.eci.gov.in/ and upload the necessary proofs required.
• The booth-level officer will then visit the address mentioned in the passport and will verify the copies of the documents. 
• Form 8 can be then used to make any correction in the electoral roll. 
• NRIs can then vote by showing their original passport at the polling station. 

 An overseas voter is an Indian citizen who is residing in another country for employment, higher education, or various reasons and has not acquired citizenship of that nation, as per the Election Commission. 

 What documents are required?

•  As per the website, one recent passport-size coloured photograph affixed in Form 6A.
• Self-attested photocopies of the relevant pages of the passport containing photograph, address in India and all other.
• The page of the passport containing the valid visa endorsement. 

 The polls will be conducted in seven phases beginning on April 19. The other phases will take place on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.