Further to his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath in December 2013, Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (lok Sabha), again met Election Commissioners of India HS Brahma and Nasim Zaidi, regarding the important issue of absentee voting. A Press communiqué to this regard was issued on behalf of Jindal.
Jindal expressed his happiness that the Election Commission was considering his proposal to allow absentee voting for NRI’s, said a Press communiqué from Delhi. Jindal also reiterated his request to consider granting of absentee voting rights to all Indians including NRI’s, migrant workers and students studying outside their constituency where their vote is registered (estimated to be over 100 million), senior and ailing citizens and under-trial prisoners who are yet to be convicted, and enable them to vote in an alternative manner.
Significantly, Brahma assured Jindal that the Election Commission is seriously considering the proposal and will take necessary steps to ensure alternate voting rights immediately, mentioned the communiqué. The Election Commissioner promised that the Commission will look into the feasibility of extending absentee voting rights to various categories of the voter.