The editor of the World Sikh News –Jagmohan Singh writes an open letter to Sunil Arora -the Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission of India, seeking availability of Form 6a and other information regarding e-voting on the ECI website in Punjabi, Tamil and other mother tongues for the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Dear Commissioner Sunil Arora: The Election Commission of India has done a commendable job of allowing Non-resident citizens the right to vote through e-voting for the first time in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

Each voter is required to fill in Form 6a (presently available in English, Hindi and Malayalam) and each voter can nominate a proxy under the rules under the Amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1950, adopted by the Indian Parliament in August last year.

The Form 6a to be filled in by prospective voters for e-voting is available online on the Election Commission of India website in English, Hindi and Tamil.

You will agree with me that a large cross section of the estimated 31 million non-resident voters overseas comprises of Punjabis, Tamils, Gujaratis and Malayalees. Therefore this form and all other relevant material regarding e-voting anywhere on the website must be available in Punjabi, Tamil and Gujarati along with the languages already available. Ideally speaking, it should be available in all languages as printed on the currency of the country.

As you would know, the younger generation overseas is well versed in English and most of them by virtue of naturalization or domicile status are citizens of those countries. Whereas, the elderly expatriates are a kind of floating population with a large number of them with Indian passports and most of this generation is less familiar with the English or Hindi languages. They would be happy to fill in this form and read all requirements in their respective mother tongues.

I request you to ensure that there is no delay in translating and making available the Form 6a in Punjabi, Tamil and other languages so that equal opportunity is afforded to all.

With best wishes for a free and fair elections in 2019,

Jagmohan Singh
Editor, The World Sikh News