Sri Lanka moves toward implementing out-of-country voting for citizens abroad
Sri Lanka is exploring how citizens living overseas could be given the opportunity to vote in future elections, with international election experts and regional officials sharing their experiences at a conference in Colombo.
The event was jointly organised by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and the Philippines discussed different systems used to protect the voting rights of citizens living abroad.
IFES Regional Director Vasu Mohan said about 304 million people were living outside their countries of citizenship in 2024. He said there is no single international model for overseas voting, with each country developing systems based on its own laws and circumstances.
He noted that national constitutions and domestic legislation remain the key legal frameworks for overseas voting. IFES, he said, does not recommend whether countries should introduce out-of-country voting (OCV), but supports the sharing of international experience and best practices.
Sri Lanka Election Commission member Ameer Faiz said Sri Lanka is prepared to move towards OCV, but the main challenge is establishing the necessary legal authority.
He said Sri Lanka must determine which system would work best, including postal voting, voting at diplomatic missions, electronic voting or a combination of methods.
Issues such as cost, equal access, different time zones and handling technical or administrative problems would also need to be addressed.
Faiz highlighted the contribution of Sri Lankans living overseas through remittances, skills, investments and international connections. He said the country currently recognises these contributions in many ways, but overseas citizens do not yet have a mechanism to participate in national elections from abroad.
Australia Highlights Election Integrity
Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ruth Baird said overseas voting presents legal, administrative, technological and security challenges for election authorities.
She said countries have developed different systems based on their constitutions, electoral laws, geography and overseas populations. Australia, with large diaspora communities, recognises both the challenges and the importance of ensuring overseas voting is accessible while maintaining electoral integrity and public confidence.
The conference comes as the Sri Lankan Government moves towards establishing an OCV mechanism.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne said the NPP Government has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee to begin the process.
He said more than 1.5 million Sri Lankan citizens live and work overseas and stressed that any future system must protect election security, transparency, integrity and public confidence.
How Other Countries Handle Overseas Voting
Bangladesh: Following the August 2024 student-led uprising, the Election Commission had only nine months to develop an OCV system. After considering postal, proxy and online voting, it adopted a hybrid postal model.
Australia: In 2025, the Australian Electoral Commission provided voting services to around 17,000 overseas voters across 83 countries, with 101 polling locations. Voting is available through diplomatic missions and postal voting supported by courier services.
Maldives: Citizens over 18 can access overseas voting based on permanent residency. A dynamic registration system allows voters to select where they want to vote. Minimum voter thresholds are used to control costs, including a requirement of at least 30 registered voters for polling stations in domestic resorts and industrial areas.
Philippines: The country introduced overseas absentee voting under legislation passed in 2003 and expanded the framework in 2013. A 2025 midterm pilot recorded 234,475 pre-voting enrollees, representing 19.2 per cent of registered overseas voters. Internet voting was implemented across 77 of 93 foreign posts, covering more than 1.2 million registered voters.
Nepal: Nepal is also renewing efforts to introduce OCV. The country has conducted more than 251 institutional and party elections using electronic voting machines over the past 13 years. Its Digital Verifiable Paper Audit Trail system allows voters to verify their selection before a paper record is placed in a ballot box.
For Sri Lanka, the experiences of these countries offer practical examples as policymakers consider how overseas citizens could exercise their democratic rights while maintaining the security, transparency and credibility of the electoral system.
More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.
Source : Daily Mirror News
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