What is Proxy voting for Service Voters?

Last updated on Jun 15, 2022

If you are a service voter belonging to either of the following two categories, then you have an option to vote through a proxy at your home constituency1:

  • Armed forces of the Union
  • Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Seema Sashastra Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, General Engineering Reserve Force and Border Roads Organisation under Border Roads Development Board

If you choose this option to vote, you will be recognised as a ‘Classified Service Voter’ (CSV).

This option is NOT available to armed police forces of a State or government officials and diplomats serving abroad.

You can appoint any person living in your home constituency as your proxy if they are:

  • Someone who has been living in that constituency for some time and is a citizen of India
  • Above 18 years of age
  • Not banned from registering as a voter on the electoral roll of that constituency.

How to Appoint a Proxy1

Sign a duly filled Form 13F before your commanding officer of your unit, ship or establishment and send it to the person who you are appointing as proxy. The proxy will have to sign the form in front of a notary or a First Class Magistrate and submit it to the Returning Officer at your constituency. If you are at your home constituency, both you and your proxy can sign Form 13F before a notary or a First Class Magistrate.

You can exercise this option of voting through proxy only till you remain a service voter.

Once appointed, they will continue to be your proxy till you revoke their appointment, or till they die. If you wish to revoke this to back to voting through postal ballots, you must fill Form 13G and send it to your Returning Officer. As soon as he receives the duly filled form, the proxy will be revoked.

How to vote through proxy1

Your proxy will cast your vote at the polling station, by following the standard procedure set for general voters. This vote that your proxy will cast will be in addition to the one they may cast in their own name. For the vote that the proxy casts for you, the indelible ink marking will be made on the middle finger of their left hand.

  1. Service Electors FAQ, Election Commission of India, available at https://eci.gov.in/faqs/voter-electors/service-voter/faqs-service-electors-r13/[][][]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4.2 / 5. Vote count: 5

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Please share your feedback about this post!

Sharing feedback will help us improve our content. Tell us how!

If you want to keep your feedback confidential, please mention it in your feedback. If you have a question, please ask us in the comments or Ask Nyaaya sections.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a question you want to ask our legal experts?

Related Resources

How do you vote?

This post deals voting process.Before you go to the polling station, please verify if your name is on the electoral roll of your constituency.

What is a Voting Machine?

An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable.

What are Lok Sabha elections?

Through the Lok Sabha elections, you are electing the Members of Parliament who will represent your constituency at the national level.

How do you cast a Postal Ballot as a Service Voter?

A registered service voter in home constituency and posted elsewhere during elections, will be sent postal ballots.

Can you vote without a Voting Card?

You may vote without a voting card. You can carry any of the acceptable government documents to the polling station to cast your vote.

Who can vote in Lok Sabha elections?

All citizens over the age of 18 has the right to participate and vote in national, state, district as well as local government body elections.