Proxy ballot a weapon unused by armed forces: Chawla

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 20

With the provision of proxy ballot failing to find utility from the defence personnel, former Election Commission of India Naveen Chawla today said there was an urgent need to spread awareness.

Interacting with The Tribune at Lawrence School, Sanawar, Chawla said though this provision had been in existence for decades, its awareness was minimal.

As per this provision, a defence person, who was posted far from his native place could authorise a person to cast his vote by filling a form obtained from the website of the ECI. He could apply to the Returning Officer and any person, who is a resident of that constituency, could be delegated the power. He said it was observed that a large number of defence personnel were not aware of this provision and failed to cast their votes.

With a large number of Himachalis serving the armed forces, creating awareness about this provision could help them.

Chawla, when asked about the need to make voting compulsory, said it was neither economically feasible, nor practical in a country which had a large number of daily wage earners who had to toil each day to make both ends meet.

Giving credit to former State Election Commissioner Manisha Nanda, whom he had met during his tenure as the ECI, Chawla said practical and innovative ideas like introduction of small-sized electoral photo ID cards had helped to enhance their utility in the nation.

No awareness

• A defence person, who was posted far from his native place, can authorise a person to cast his vote by filling a form obtained from the website of the ECI
• He has to apply to the Returning Officer and any person, who is a resident of that constituency, can be delegated the power
• It is observed that a large number of defence personnel are not aware of this provision