NEW DELHI: In a democracy, all citizens regardless of their race, color and previous condition of subjugation have the right to vote under the Citizenship Act which grants them protection under the 15th Amendment.

As per the Election commission of India, citizens are eligible to become voters under the following conditions:

Every citizen who is 18 years old on the qualifying date (January 1 of the year in case), unless disqualified, is eligible to be enrolled.
Enrollment only at ordinary place of residence.
Enrollment only at one place.
An overseas Indian is deemed to be ordinarily resident at the address given in passport.
A service voter is deemed to be ordinarily resident at the home address.

You are a service voter if:

You are in the armed forces.
You are from Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBF, GREF in Border Roads Organisation and Central Industrial Security Force.
Employed by the Government of India in a post outside India.
Member of an armed police force of a state, and serving outside that state.

How to enroll as a service voter:

Find out the name of your constituency in the district/state of residence
Fill enrollment form
Fill two copies of Form 2 for armed forces 1) Form 2A for armed police force 2) Form 3 for government officials serving abroad.
Fill the declaration form and submit the forms to the record office or nodal officer
A wife of a service voter will be enrolled as a service voter on the basis of the declaration made by her husband in the form. No separate declaration is required to be made by the wife
Only a wife can be enrolled as service voter, not a son or daughter.
One can also opt to enroll as a general elector at the place of posting if it's a peace posting.

How to vote if you are a service voter:

When elections are announced, returning officer of your constituency will send you the postal ballot, record your vote by placing clearly a mark opposite the name of the candidate of your choice on the ballot paper.
Do not put your signature, any word, sign or any mark on the ballot paper other than the mark required to record your vote. After recording your vote, place the ballot paper in the smaller cover marked 'A' sent along with the ballot paper, close the cover and seal it. Sign the declaration Form 13A also sent with the ballot paper in the presence an officer appointed by the commanding officer of the unit, ship or establishment.

The officer will attest your signature and return the declaration to you, you must not show your ballot paper to the attesting officer. Place the declaration and also the smaller cover marked 'A' containing the ballot paper in the larger cover marked 'B'.

After closing the larger cover, send it to the returning officer by post or by messenger. Give your full signature in the space provided on the cover marked `B'. No postage stamp need be affixed by you. You must ensure that the cover reaches the returning officer before the specified date.