NRI’s hailing from the five poll-bound states will be able to vote in the elections for the first time but they will have to be physically present in their place of origin to exercise their franchise. The Election Commission has already issued guidelines for enrolment of names of NRI’s in the rolls after holding several rounds of discussions with the ministries of Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs. Election Commission Officials said, the assembly polls in the five states will be the first occasion when NRIs will be allowed to vote in elections in the country even if they stayed for more than six months outside India at a stretch. According to earlier rules, an NRI's name gets deleted from the voters' list if he or she stays outside the country for over six months at a stretch.