Udupi, Nov 12: Only 10 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from Karnataka have registered themselves as 'overseas electors' for the May 12 assembly polls.
Joint chief electoral officer KN Ramesh confirmed that only 10 NRIs – all hailing from Kundapur in Udupi district and working in Gulf countries filed their details under Form-6A which is meant for NRIs. They have taken special leave to fly down to India and cast their votes.
This does not mean that only 10 NRIs are casting their votes in Karnataka assembly polls. “There are over 14 lakh NRIs residing in various parts of the world, but these 10 have identified themselves as NRIs and enrolled again. Many others may have enrolled themselves as general voters and many may or may not come here to vote. "We can't force the NRIs to register,'' he said.
There is no direct or proxy voting facility for NRIs. Proposal to allow proxy voting or postal ballot system for NRIs is still pending before the Centre. Now NRIs have to come down to vote, he said.
Ramesh said that not many NRIs are aware that they have to enrol themselves in a separate form. The amendment to include NRIs was introduced in 2015-16 and since then it is for the first time a list of ten has been prepared.
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