KOZHIKODE: The Malayali’s obsession with politics doesn’t end at the neighbourhood saloon back home. In fact, take Malayalis out of the country and they will still turn up to vote: Expats from the state account for 92% of NRIs who have registered as overseas electors.
The state witnessed a fivefold increase in the number of overseas electors — from 12,653 in 2014 to 66,584 as of January 30, 2019. Though the number is a small fraction of the country’s total NRI population of 1.3 crore, the fact that an overwhelming majority of the 71,735 overseas electors registered in the country hails from the state reflects the growing enthusiasm among non-resident Keralites to participate in the political process back home.
Of the total of 66,584 overseas electors from the state, 3,729 are women, as per EC.
Expat organisations from the state had conducted mass online voter enrolment drives in the Gulf, especially after Lok Sabha passed a bill in August 2018 to allow NRIs to appoint proxy voters who can cast their vote. Between October 2018 and January 2019, more than 40,000 expats registered as overseas electors. But the bill lapsed as Rajya Sabha failed to take it up.
As of now, NRIs can vote in their hometown after registering as
overseas voters
. There is no provision for online voting.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Rajeev is the Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Ko...
Read MoreRajeev is the Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Kozhikode. He has 10 years’ experience in journalism. He was with The New Indian Express and with the information department at Ras-al-Khaimah before joining TOI. He handles the education and the politics beat.
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