NEW DELHI: The U.S. Embassy here estimates that there are 60,000 American voters in India who will be using absentee ballots, according to a news report. And given the close nature of the vote back home, the response this year has been much greater than in 2000. “Given the huge level of interest this time, apathy will not be a factor,” an embassy official was quoted as saying.

According to the official, military personnel, government officials and diplomats, tourists and businessmen form the bulk of the 60,000 American voters in the country.

They can vote at the embassy here, and the three consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Alternatively, they can mail ballots to their counties or hand them over to anyone traveling to the U.S., the report said.

This is the reason why officials here will not be able to ascertain exactly how many of the voters cast their ballot.

–– Compiled from news dispatches by Shibi Alex Chandy