EC issues norms for Armed Forces proxy voting

The Election Commission of India on Monday issued detailed guidelines regarding proxy voting by Armed Forces personnel in the elections. Kusumjit Singh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab said here that special provisions have been made in the law to facilitate registration of armed forces personnel and casting of votes by them. By virtue of provisions under R P Act,1950 a member of the Armed Forces and his wife,if residing with him,can be registered as service voters in the the constituency in which his native place is located. She said that members of the Armed Forces registered as service voters can vote either by postal ballot or by proxy.

She said that a service voter,who opts to vote through proxy,is required to appoint a person who is resident of the area covered by the constituency,where he/she is registered as service elector,as his proxy. The electoral officer clarified that the proxy should be of at least 18 years of age and shall not be disqualified for registration as an elector but need not be a registered voter.

Singh further said a service voter,who is in field,has the option to put his signature on Form 13F before the commanding officer of the unit and then send the form to his proxy who can thereafter submit the form to the returning officer concerned.