Non-resident Indians in UAE advocate for overseas voting, willing to pay taxes and travel expenses

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the UAE are feeling excluded and frustrated as they are unable to participate in the ongoing general elections in India. This issue has become a significant concern among the diaspora, particularly in regions with large NRI populations such as the UAE. Many residents are unable to travel to India during the elections, denying them a crucial democratic voice in their homeland’s affairs.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, several Indian residents highlighted that despite living abroad, they remain emotionally and culturally connected to their homeland. They stressed the importance of establishing a system that enables them to vote to ensure their voices are heard in shaping the future of India.

Arogya Reddy, a Sharjah-based school Principal, expressed his regret at missing the opportunity to vote in the elections due to his commitments in the UAE. He emphasized the need for NRI ballots to be introduced in Indian missions and for the government to facilitate this process. Reddy’s sentiments were echoed by other residents, such as Arijit Nandi, who highlighted the unfairness of NRIs paying taxes but not having the right to vote.

The staggered Indian elections, currently underway, are scheduled to continue until June 1. With nearly 970 million eligible voters participating to elect 543 members to the lower house of Parliament, concerns have been raised about the approximately 300 million ‘missing’ voters in the previous elections.

NRIs in the UAE are pushing for electronic or postal ballots to be implemented in the future, which could significantly boost voter participation. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been exploring alternative methods to enable overseas voters to participate in elections, including the use of postal ballots and online registration for overseas voters.

Dubai resident Priyadarshee Panigrahi is undertaking a costly and inconvenient journey back to his hometown in Orissa to participate in the elections out of a sense of responsibility. Despite the challenges, Panigrahi is determined to contribute to shaping his homeland’s future through his vote.

Ansoo Gupta, another Dubai resident, emphasized the importance of voting as a civic duty and shared her commitment to voting in every general election. She called for a reliable method to ensure that the electoral process becomes more inclusive for NRIs living abroad.

As NRIs in the UAE continue to advocate for their right to vote in Indian elections, the issue of overseas voting remains a pressing concern that needs to be addressed to ensure the democratic participation of all Indian citizens, regardless of their location.