In the world’s biggest election, millions of migrants are unable to vote

But when polls open in the city, the 59-year-old street vendor wont be able to vote in the nationwide election along with millions of internal migrant workers who are a major backbone of the countrys economy...

I cannot go vote as I dont belong to Maharashtra state, Gupta told CNN in Mumbais shopping district Dadar, standing next to the roadside cart where he sells shaved ice and cold drinks..

Under Indias election rules, eligible voters can only cast ballots in their constituencies meaning those working outside of their state have to return home to vote.. . Thats all but impossible for many out-of-state workers, especially underprivileged daily-wage workers in the unorganized sector..

Despite the living expenses being relatively high in large cities as compared to villages, their wages are considerably low causing poor living conditions including limited or non-existent public services such as water and sanitation, said one United Nations-led study that examined the impact of the pandemic on this segment of the workforce.. . Gupta said his shaved ice business relies on the hot summer months when the election takes place..

Indian authorities have pushed hard in recent years to increase turnout, urging all 968 million eligible voters nationwide to cast their ballots a massive feat that includes setting up more than a million polling stations from remote forests to mountain peaks.. ..

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