Service voters are those who have service qualification. Service voter can cast their vote either through postal ballot or through a proxy voter duly appointed by him and a service voter who opts to vote through a proxy is called Classified Service Voter. That's why Service Voters plays an important role in close contest in elections. In 2014, there were 13,27,627service voter while the number has increased to 16,62,993 service voters in 2019; as per data available on ECI Website.
For Lok Sabha 2019 elections people have registered themselves for voting and lot of enthusiasm have been seen among various segments of the voters including service voters also. Let us see who else falls under the service voter category in India.
Who is a Service Voter?
According to the provisions of sub-section (8) of Section 20 of Representation of People Act, 1950, Service Voters are:
- Those serving in the Armed Forces of the Union.
- Those serving in a Force to which the Army Act 1950 applies (Assam rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, GREF in BRO (Border Road organisation), CISF etc.
- Member of an Armed Police Force of a State, serving outside that state.
- Those employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.
Let us tell you that Uttarakhand state of India has sizeable number of Service Voters. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan no doubt have larger number of service voters; Uttarakhand has also got around 88,600 services voters. Garhwali parliamentary constituency has maximum number of service voter among all the five constituencies of the State since 2014 till date.
Is wife or children of a Service Voter are also enrolled as Service Voter?
Wife of a Service Voter, if she is ordinarily residing with him, shall also be eligible to be enrolled in the part meant for Service Voters in the constituency concerned. Let us tell you that this facility is not available to the husband of a female Service Voter under the existing law. Children of a Service voter, relative, servant etc. residing ordinarily with a Service Voter cannot be enrolled as Service Voter.
How to register to Vote in India?
How Service Voter is different from an Ordinary Voter?
As we know that an ordinary elector is registered in the electoral roll of the constituency in which his place of ordinary residence is located whereas the person is having service qualification can enrolled himself as 'service voter' at his native place even though he actually may be residing at a different place (posting). That is he has an option to get himself enrolled as general elector at the place of his posting and at the point of time is residing ordinarily with his family for some span of time.
Note: Under Sections 17 and 18 of Representation of People Act, 1950 a person, at a particular time, cannot be enrolled as a voter at more than one place. Also, no person can be enrolled as an elector more than once in any electoral roll.
Who is a Classified Service Voter?
A Service Voter who belongs to Armed Forces or forces according to the available provision of Army Act, 1950, he or she has option of either voting through postal ballot or through a proxy voter duly appointed by him. When a Service Voter opts for voting through a proxy is called Classified Service Voter (CSV).
Now question arises that who is a proxy?
By applying to Returning Officer in Form 13F of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961- Forms are also available at the website of Election Commission; a Service Voter may appoint any person as his or her proxy to give vote on his or her behalf that too in his or her name at the polling station. But the proxy shall have to be ordinary resident of that constituency. One thing to note here is that he or she need not be a registered voter but he or she must not be disqualified to be registered as a voter.
How can a Service Voter enrol himself?
- First, find out the name of your Constituency and Part in the district or state of residence.
- Either register online or download the form from www.servicevoter.nic.in. Then, fill 2 copies of: Form 2 for Armed Forces, Form 2A for Armed Police Force and Form 3 for Government officials serving abroad.
- Fill the Declaration form and submit to the Record office or nodal officer. Here, let us tell you that Wife of Service Voter can be enrol in the same part on the basis of declaration made by her husband in the form and no separate declaration is required from her.
How can you enrol as a General Elector?
- General Elector can also opt to enrol as General Elector at a place of posting if it is peace station.
- You can also remain a Service Voter of your native constituency or register as a General Voter at place of posting.
Note: Remember to get your name declared as a Service Voter, when you enrol as a General Elector.
How Service Voter while casting a vote fill the ballot paper?
At the time of election, in your native constituency Returning officer (RO) will send you the postal ballot along with two envelopes, a declaration and instructions for voting.
- Then, record your vote by placing clearly a mark cross or right opposite to the name of the candidate of your choice on the ballot paper. Please note that your vote will not be valid if the mark does not clearly indicate your choice.
- Also remember that while voting does not put your signature, any word, sign or any other mark on the ballot paper other than the mark required to record your vote.
- After record your vote put the ballot paper in the smaller cover marked 'A', close the cover and secure it with seal or otherwise.
- In presence of an officer appointed by the Commanding Officer of the unit, ship or establishment sign the declaration in Form 13A.
- Also do remember to mention the serial number of the postal ballot in the declaration in the place meant for the same.
- Then, the officer will attest your signature and return the declaration to you. Remember that you should not show your ballot paper to the attesting officer.
- Now, place the Declaration and also the smaller cover marked A in to the larger cover marked B. In which already the address of the Returning officer is mentioned.
- Don't forget to give your full signature on the cover marked B. The serial number should be entered on the smaller envelope that is Form 13B in the column meant for it.
- After closing the larger cover, send it to the RO by post or by messenger.
- Remember not to fix any kind of postage stamp on the cover.
Note: The ballot has to reach the RO before the time fixed for the commencement of counting of votes which would be mentioned in the instruction sheet.
Now, let us see voting through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot (ETPB)
- At the time of election automatically you will receive your ballot electronically with your details which were already filled in. A One Time Password (OTP) shall be provided to enable you to download the ETPB.
- With the ETPB, following things you will receive: Declaration form (Form 13 A), Cover A (Form 13B) cut along the line and paste on small envelope, Cover B (Form-13C) Cut along the line and paste on large envelope. After that follow the same procedure as mentioned above in the manual process.
- After recording your vote, fold the ETPB and place in the small cover marked A. Close it and secure it with a seal.
- Sign the Declaration provided in Form 13A in the presence of the appointed officer.
- The officer would at least provide the signature on the Declaration and return it to you.
- Now place the Declaration (Form 13A) and small envelope with ETPB in the cover marked A to the larger cover marked as B and seal it properly.
- Put your full signature on the envelope B. Now, send it to the RO through post or a messenger.
Do you know when your vote can be counted as invalid?
- If you vote for more than one candidate.
- If the given mark by you does not clearly indicate your choice or you have marked in between two names.
- If the cover is not sealed or pasted.
- If the Declaration in Form 13A is not found on opening the outer envelope.
- If Declaration in Form 13A does not carry your signature or attestation by competent officer.
Conclusion:
Service Voter has service qualification. They include member of Armed Forces of the Union of India, members of Armed Police forces of the States serving outside that state and persons employed under Government of India on posts outside India. As per existing arrangements, members of India Army, Navy and Air force, Boarder Road Organisation, BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles, NSG, CRPF, CISF and SSB are eligible to be registered as service voters. Also, a service voter can cast his or her vote by proxy. Let us tell you at the end that a Service Portal has also been created for the help of Service Voters. And for more information you can also visit www.servicevoter.nic.in website.
Source: servicevoter.nic.in
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