EC for e-postal ballot, proxy voting for NRIs

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that e-postal ballot and proxy voting options can be provided to nonresident Indian (NRIs). A committee set up by the poll panel to examine the feasibility of giving voting options to overseas voters submitted a report to the court this month. “The committee is of the view that e-postal ballot where blank postal ballot is transferred electronically to NRI and returned by post can be employed after validation of the process and pilot implementation in one or two constituencies and then scale up to Parliamentary elections if found feasible, practicable and meeting the objectives of free and fair elections,” the report said. The committee also recommended option of proxy voting to the electors overseas.