Indians Top List of Foreigners Eligible To Vote in Mauritius  

The number of foreign citizens eligible to vote in Mauritius has shown a steady increase, according to documents presented at the Parliament library.

In 2006, there were 263 Commonwealth citizens on the electoral register, a number that surged to 1,553 in 2022, constituting 0.16% of the total electorate.

Surprisingly, Indian nationals outnumbered Bangladeshis, with 878 Indians and 199 Bangladeshis registered in 2022.

Among the constituencies, number 18 (Belle-Rose/Quatre-Bornes) had the highest concentration of Indian voters, with 199 out of 298 foreigners on the list.

Constituency number 16 (La Caverne/Phoenix) held the second-highest number of foreign voters at 161, including 69 Indians and 55 Bangladeshis.

Savanne / Rivière-Noire (number 14) claimed the third position. Alongside Indians and Bangladeshis, other nationalities like Australians, Britons, Canadians, and more were also represented, albeit in smaller numbers.

The count of Commonwealth citizens has risen consistently over the years, with a slight dip in 2013, 2015, and 2017. Article 42 of the Constitution stipulates eligibility criteria for foreign voters, sparking debates over whether non-Mauritian citizens should have the right to vote.

Some argue for its removal, while others advocate maintaining it in the spirit of reciprocity observed in other Commonwealth nations.

Source: Defi Media