EC notification invites applications from overseas electors

Kolkata, Feb 18 (PTI) The Election Commission todayissued notification inviting applications from overseaselectors who have completed 18 years of age to get registeredin the electoral rolls.

The notification issued under Rule 8A of the Registrationof Electors Rules, 1960 stated that overseas electors havingresidence in West Bengal and completing 18 years of age as onJanuary 01, 2011 may submit applications in Form-6A forregistering their names in the electoral roll, the state''sChief Electoral Officer, Sunil Gupta, said quoting thenotification.

The claim application in Form-6A may either be submittedin person directly to the registration officer of theconstituency concerned or sent to a registration officer bypost along with documents mentioned in Form-6A and theguidelines, he said.

The CEO said addresses of the registration officers ofeach of the 294 Assembly constituencies in the state of WestBengal could be seen on the website www.ceowestbengal.nic.in.

The provision for overseas electors to get their namesregistered in the electoral list was included after amendingthe Section-20A of the Representation of People Act, 1950 lastyear.

It came into effect from February 10, 2011.

The CEO, however, clarified that the overseas electorswould not be allowed to cast their votes by post.

Once the procedures are completed, overseas electorscould be able to enroll their names in the electoral roll andsaid there was time enough for the process to be completedbefore the Assembly elections due in three months time.