GUWAHATI, March 21 � The non-resident people of Assam-origin, along with their counterpasts from other parts of the country, who have completed 18 years of age, will now be able to cast their votes this time as per the provisions made by the Election Commission (EC) of India for the non-resident Indians (NRIs).
This provision has been made in accordance with Section 20-A inserted in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 through a 2010 amendment. The amendment came into effect on February 10 this year.
However, for the purpose, the NRIs should get their names registered as voters by duly entering their names in the electoral rolls of the specific constituencies of the country, in which their places of residence fall.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State had said in a notification here on February 17, 2011(No.ELE.127/2010/24), ��every overseas elector, i.e., Indian citizen who is absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to employment, education or otherwise, has not acquired citizenship of any other country and who is not included in the electoral roll, is entitled to have his/her name registered in the electoral roll of the constituency in which his/her place of residence in India is mentioned in his/her passport...�
According to the above notification, it could be derived that in terms of Rule 8-A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, every overseas elector whose place of residence in India is located in the State of Assam, who has completed 18 years of age on January 1, 2011, is eligible to be a voter. But for the purpose of casting votes, one should duly enter one�s name in the electoral roll of the constituency concerned.
But for being able to cast votes, such persons should be physically present in the polling station concerned on the day of the poll bringing along his/her original passport for production.
