Bill inserts new section 20A allowing overseas Indians to register in home constituency

It also mandates that corrections to electoral rolls be made only after proper verification of facts.

Who it concerns: Indian citizens residing outside India (who have not acquired citizenship of another country), Electoral Registration Officers, and the Central Government.

What the bill does

• Inserts a new section 20A allowing eligible Indian citizens abroad to register in the electoral roll of the constituency where their Indian residence (as per passport) is located.
• Allows registered persons to vote in elections if they are present in the constituency and otherwise eligible.
• Amends section 22 to require 'proper verification of facts' before amending, transposing, or deleting entries in electoral rolls.
• Amends section 23 to require 'proper verification of facts' before including or striking off names in electoral rolls.
• Amends section 28 to empower the Central Government to prescribe rules for the verification procedures and registration timelines.

Also in the document

• The Bill is an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• It delegates rule-making powers to the Central Government for procedural details such as verification methods and registration timelines.
• The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that this follows a previous 2006 Bill that was withdrawn to introduce a fresh, comprehensive Bill.