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Therefore, consequential amendments on account of this are really to section 59 because section 59 so far forbids proxy voting. Therefore, section 59 permits proxy vote in case there is an enabling provision created. Then there are corresponding amendments to section 60 and section 62. Since it could also have some corresponding effect on section 171(d) of the Indian Penal Code because impersonation etc. are offences, there has to be a consequential change. These consequential changes have been made, the underlying principle being that an enabling provision for proxy vote for members of the Armed Forces, who are serving in far-flung areas, has been created by virtue of this amendment.
Therefore, if the personnel of the Armed Forces like to be involved in the electoral process in a proper manner as we involve ourselves, it is the duty of the Parliament and the Government to find out the latest possible mechanism to ensure that they really reflect their mind in the electoral process. If he knows that the following persons from so and so parties are contesting for the election, then he should be allowed to exercise his voting right according to his choice. He cannot say that he would choose his wife or brother who is looking after his establishment in his place to vote for him as proxy. As we all know, proxy vote always means false vote in popular perception. So, why should we give this proxy vote system, which is a stigma, to the Armed Forces personnel? If the Government wants to honour them and protect their right, then the Government should find out some other method by which they can really translate their ideas and express their mind in whatever manner they like. That is why, Section 59 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 says that ‘secret ballot’ means it is not ‘proxy’. But the Government is trying to substitute that. Is it fair?
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA (CANARA): Mr. Chairman, Sir, what about the Indian staff in the Embassies abroad? Will they also have the right of proxy voting? Why should only the Armed Forces have that right? We are having hundreds of our Officers and Staff working in our Embassies abroad? How will they vote?
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, Section 59 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 says:
"At every election where a poll is taken votes shall be given by ballot in such manner as may be prescribed, and no votes shall be received by proxy."This provision is very clear. Therefore, I gave the example not for justifying my argument in this debate, but I wanted to honestly put forth my point of view. If I am allowed to cite another case, in a particular State, a particular community has been deprived of going to the polling centre and exercising their voting right in every election. They feel that had they been in the Army and posted in some remote corner of the country like Siachen or some other area, they could have used their proxy vote. But since they are not in the Armed Forces and they are tortured and suppressed by other communities and the State does not give any protection to them, they have no right to give a proxy vote.

They feel that just because they are in the borders, they have no way to put their faith in a party or on a person and that their votes never mattered. It is a fact. There are about twenty lakhs of personnel and theirs is only a fraction of percentage of one billion people or 80 crores of people who are voting. It does not really make a difference. I remember, every time an election is conducted and after the election is over and the results are declared, people say, ‘let us count the postal votes because we have to give the exact number of postal votes which have come’. It does not make a difference in the results of the election. It will never make a difference in the results of the election. The votes of these 20 lakh people will not make a difference in most of the constituencies, not only Lok Sabha elections but also in Assembly elections. But it is only a feeling and a feel good factor. We must send a message that they are also part of us. Since they are doing this hazardous work for the country, we should create that good feeling among them. That is more important than giving voting rights. The proxy vote in a democratic system is not new. A lot of countries have adopted this system of proxy voting. It is not a new thing in a democractic system. It is not that proxy voting is being introduced only in this country and that nowhere else it is there.