S.1 Short title and commencement

       (1) This Act may be called the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003.
       (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

S.2 Amendment of section 59

In the Representation of the People Act, 1951(43 of 1951) (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act), in section 59, for the words", and no votes shall be received by proxy", the words "and, save as expressly provided by this Act, no votes shall be received by proxy" shall be substituted.

S.3 Substitution of new section for section 60

       For section 60 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:--
       "60. Special procedure for voting by certain classes of persons.--
       Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in section. 59, provision may be made, by rules made under this Act, for enabling--
       (a) any of the persons as is referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (8) of section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950) (hereafter in this section referred to as the 1950-Act) to give his vote either in person or by postal ballot or by proxy, and not in any other manner, at an election in a constituency where poll is taken;
       (b) any of the following persons to give his vote either in person or by postal ballot

S.4 Amendment of section 62

       In section 62 of the principal Act, after sub-section (5), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:--
       "(6) Nothing contained in sub-sections (3) and (4) shall apply to a person who has been authorised to vote as proxy for an elector under this Act in so far as he votes as a proxy for such elector.".

S.5 Amendment of section 171D

       In section 171D of the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860), the following proviso shall be inserted at the end, namely:--
       "Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person who has been authorised to vote as proxy for an elector under any law for the time being in force in so far as he votes as a proxy for such elector.".