The Rajya Sabha on December 05, 2025, notified the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to broaden the concept of voter residence and strengthen electoral participation. The Bill seeks to substitute the expression “ordinarily resident” with “ordinarily or usual resident” across key provisions, thereby recognising modern patterns of mobility and residence for electoral registration purposes.
A major reform proposed is the insertion of new provisions enabling Indian citizens residing abroad for one year or more (for employment, education, or other purposes) to cast their vote from their country of residence, through a method to be prescribed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Bill mandates the ECI to ensure security, confidentiality, and authenticity in remote voting mechanisms, aligning overseas voting with constitutional guarantees and democratic inclusiveness.
The Bill also introduces a new Section 20B, defining “usual resident” as a person staying or intending to stay in a local area for six months or more, including inter-state migrants and persons with sustained social, familial, or economic ties. Safeguards are built in to prevent multiple registrations, provide appeal mechanisms, and empower the Central Government, in consultation with the ECI, to frame supporting rules. These amendments aim to modernise electoral rolls and ensure wider voter enfranchisement while maintaining electoral integrity.
[BillNo.XCVof2024]
