The right to vote is universally recognised as an important ingredient of a vibrant democracy. Our Constitution incorporated universal adult franchise as its cardinal principle. And the right to vote is based on the residence principle under the Representation of People Act. So, only voters ordinarily residing in the geographical constituency can vote in that constituency.

NRIs living abroad do not have the right to vote now as they do not comply with the residency rule, although few of them surreptitiously have their names registered in voting register and exercise their voting right by visiting the country during the elections. The only exception to this are Indian diplomats serving abroad and the armed forces personnel for whom special arrangements exist to exercise their voting right.

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Should Indians living abroad, but having Indian passport, be given the right to vote? This issue acquires special significance in the context of a large number of our citizens increasingly migrating to other countries for employment, education, research and investment .

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All Indians holding Indian passports should be given the voting right to make our universal franchise real. Moreover, the contribution of such eminent citizens emigrating for limited tenure to India’s development cannot be ignored. Many of them pay taxes in respect of their properties and income in India.

Giving them voting right will be a logical consequence of the universal franchise principle. The NRIs can be given the voting right in the constituency where the voter has properties or where taxes are paid ordinarily.

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