Why Telangana NRIs in Gulf Countries Are Facing Problems With Overseas Voter Registration
HYDERABAD: Expatriates from Telangana working in Gulf countries are struggling to complete online voter registration. Many say the Election Commission’s portal is rejecting valid documents, particularly visa copies, required for registration as overseas electors.
Several non-resident Indian (NRI) organisations have approached legal and technical experts in India for guidance to help eligible voters complete the process.
The Telangana International Association, an umbrella body representing several Telangana organisations in the Gulf, will hold an awareness meeting for Telanganites in Saudi Arabia on July 4 to address the issue.
Overseas citizens must submit Form 6A through the online portal to register as voters. They need to upload copies of their passport, visa, proof of residence in India and details of their workplace in the country where they live instead of Aadhaar details.
Visa uploads emerge as biggest hurdle
Advocate Mohammed Waseem, who will attend the Telangana International Association’s meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said technical glitches are preventing many applicants from completing the process.
“Even if applicants manage to access the website, completing Form 6A remains a major challenge. They must upload supporting documents, including their passport and visa. While the portal accepts passport copies, it repeatedly rejects valid visa copies. This is the most common complaint from expats,” Waseem said.
NRI organisations said many eligible overseas voters could not complete their applications because the portal kept rejecting valid visa documents. They hope the July 4 meeting will help applicants understand the documentation requirements and overcome the technical issues affecting voter registration.
