The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar, has announced that the Election Commission (EC) is actively working on granting voting rights to overseas Indians. Kumar discussed this initiative during an interaction with Indian Foreign Service Officer Trainees.
The CEC emphasized the need for technology-driven methods to facilitate the participation of over 1.34 crore overseas voters.
“To make this plan a reality, the role of the IFS and our High Commissions/embassies located worldwide would be vital,” he said.
Kumar also highlighted the resilience of Indian democracy, with 17 general elections and over 400 elections to State Legislative Assemblies since 1952.
The CEC mentioned the EC’s role in strengthening democracies worldwide, including providing leadership and support to Election Management Bodies. During the interaction, Kumar also addressed the challenges of holding elections in India and the EC’s efforts to counter fake news and deep fakes on social media. He also added that the EC’s commitment to credible electoral outcomes and election integrity had been praised globally, which further establishes India’s national power.