Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Voting: Armed Forces Personnel

ELECTORAL TANGLE

EC won’t allow def staff to vote at posting place

Bharti Jain TNN



New Delhi: Months after the then chairman of the chiefs of staff committee, N A K Browne, wrote to the Election Commission seeking the right of members of the armed forces to be registered at the place of their posting just like a general voter, the election panel has positioned itself against the proposal.
    Sources in the EC told TOI it was disinclined to allowing soldiers to vote from their cantonments or military stations, as the results in such constituencies could be influenced by the sheer number of such voters on the rolls rather than the locals’ preference.
    The risk, an EC official said, was more in Jammu & Kashmir and northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, which are thinly populated but have heavy military presence. Besides, in many constituencies in Kashmir, where the voter turnout could be very low, the participation of the local military unit may alter poll results.
    “How can one rule out the risk of a ruling dispensation trying to influence results by getting a large unit, like a brigade, to relocate to a particular area just six months before a poll?” asked the EC official.
    The EC may present its arguments against allowing defence service voters to vote from the place of their posting to the defence and home ministries when their representatives meet here on Tuesday to discuss the issue. While arguing for a status quo that treats service personnel differently from ordinary voters in the coming Lok Sabha elections, the commission, however, will insist on cooperation of the armed forces to make the postal ballot and proxy voting mechanism more effective.
    There is, however, a view in the EC that internet voting facility for the armed forces and embassy staff could be considered.
    For the full report, log on
    to www.timesofindia.com 

7 comments:

Collamba said...

1.armed forces should be kept away from civil voting area & avoid conflict 2. allow them to vote by
a[ mobile register with their voter card.
b] internet e mail.registered & verify with photo
c] paper postal when above two mode not available in far flung area

Unknown said...

EC is biased. they don,t want Services to get their say.WHY?

let the result be inflkuenced !!!
dfon't treat soldiers like Racist & deny him his fundamental right...
If some constituencies get influenced; atleast those (influenced) will view the Fauji like a citizen of India. I understand none want to give this right to fauj.

EC jago....bebkuf mat banao

Voting is our fundamental right;;;;give it to usd...
Ab insaan bano ....take care of soldiers !!!!

Unknown said...

how does the issue concern ex-servicemen nay also please be highlighted.

Collamba said...

THE PROBLEM IS FOR SERVING & NOT FOR EX SERVING,, IF U WANT HELP FROM SERVING THEN WHY NOT HELP THEM TOO,,ONE SHOULD NOT BE MISER & ONE WAY TRACK

Lt Clo R C SHARMA said...

Why EC has not raised the similar view point when civilians away from their home land get the voter card made at their place of work influencing fate of the local party/leader ? It is unfair treatment to the serving personnel denying them their fundamental right.

Unknown said...

By voting or not voting you are not going to influence the persistent attitude of absolute apathy towards armed forces and matters relating to national security. To pin hopes on politicians and bureaucrats would be a folly. We never learnt from history. To say he least, s self respecting natioin will always respect the soldier!

WG.CDR.V.SUNDARESAN(RETD) said...

Any frsh news about the contempt of court proceedings> any back-door meetings? we are eager to know the latest situations/parleys etc...
v.sundaresan