By Admin 
Amritpal Singh, MP from Khadur Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, will vote from Dibrugarh Jail in Assam in the Vice Presidential election to be held on 9 September. The Election Commission has directed them to issue postal ballots.
Amritpal Singh is currently in jail under the National Security Act (NSA) and the Commission has taken this step under constitutional provisions. This decision is considered important because despite being in captivity, he will be given an opportunity to exercise his constitutional right as an MP.
Election Commission instructions
According to the statement issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office of Punjab, the Election Commission has ordered to provide this facility citing Rule 26 of the President and Vice President Election Rules, 1974.
Under the rules, preventive detained MPs have been given the right to vote, but the postal ballot can only be issued on the day of polling. This time also the same process will be adopted. The Commission has clarified that Singh will be completely safe for voting and his vote will be valid like other MPs.
How will voting be done through postal ballot?
According to the prescribed process, Amritpal Singh will be handed over the postal ballot on the day of polling. After this, he will put a ballot in the sealed envelope, which will be mandatory to reach the polling station. The Commission has also directed the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Assam Government to make this system smooth.
Also, it has been ordered to ensure that the ballot from Dibrugarh is sent by air and reach the Returning Officer before 6 pm on September 9. Only then the counting of votes will be started.
Voting under special circumstances
Amritpal Singh is currently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. Action was taken against him under the National Security Act, 1980. Under normal circumstances, a person in jail cannot vote, but as an MP, he has been given the benefit of special provisions.
This decision is being seen as the strength of the democratic process. Experts say that this example will also be an example for other matters in the coming time, where it may be necessary to give public representatives an opportunity to vote from jail.