Postal Voting for NRIs Likely to Become a Reality Soon

Fast Summary

• Teh Election Commission of India (ECI) is exploring the feasibility of introducing postal ballots for overseas electors.
• Chief electoral Officer (CEO) Kerala,Rathan U. Kelkar, has urged the ECI to implement this system in time for the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala.
• A large number of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) electors hail from Kerala, mainly residing in West Asian nations.
• Currently,NRI voters can onyl vote by physically visiting polling stations in their locality and showing a passport.
• The proposed system would use a process similar to the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System for service voters: ballots are sent electronically and returned via post after being marked by voters abroad through Indian embassies.
• As of 2024 Lok Sabha polls, out of 1.2 lakh registered overseas electors from all over India with the ECI, nearly 89,839 were from Kerala (83% male). This reflects an increase from previous polls – there were 87,648 registered NRI voters in Kerala during the 2019 elections and over 90,000 by January 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the move to introduce postal ballots for overseas electors could mark a important step toward increasing electoral participation among NRIs who face logistical challenges voting in person at local polling stations within India. For regions like Kerala with a significant expatriate population-nearly three-fourths of India’s documented overseas electorate-this initiative holds particular importance.

From an administrative standpoint, adopting such measures through embassies and electronic means aligns closely with existing practices for service voters but may demand robust systems to ensure clarity and security across international borders. Greater enfranchisement could also strengthen democratic representation while fostering deeper engagement between NRIs and their home state’s political landscape.

However, careful planning will be essential given logistical constraints such as delivering ballot materials accurately under tight timelines between elector locations globally and returning them promptly to Indian constituencies.

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