Commencement of Poll

• The poll should commence at the

appointed time.
• If commencement not done at the
appointed hour, explain reasons for the
delay in your Presiding Officer’s Diary.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 1

 COMMENCEMENT OF THE POLL – AT A GLANCE

Commencement of Poll at appointed time

Warning about Secrecy of vote

If delay in
polling, entry
in PrOs Diary
Precaution for indelible ink

Demonstrate marked copy of Electoral Roll to Polling

Agents

Showing Register of Voters in Form 17 A to Polling Agents

Entry of Voters to Polling Station

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 2
 Dos and DONTs
• Treat all parties and candidates equally
• Decide fairly and justly every disputed point
• Your tact, firmness and impartiality are the most
important safeguards against any breach of the peace.
• Neither you nor any other officer at polling station
should do any act or activity, interpreted as furthering
the prospects of any candidate at the election.
• You and other officers should maintain decorum and
dignity.
• Should not shake hands or get self photographed with a
celebrity or VIP visiting polling station for casting
his/her vote.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 3

 Read out the Prescribed Declaration

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 4

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 6
 WARNING ABOUT SECRECY OF VOTING:
Before commencing poll, explain to all the contesting candidates or
their polling agents, the provisions of Section 128 of the Act regarding
their duty to maintain the secrecy of the vote

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 7

 Take some sand or loose earth or
an empty tin or some broad-
bottomed vessel, and push the
phial down three-quarters of its Ensure the plastic rod
length into the centre attached to the cork is
Ink does not get tilted and
left/kept standing and not
the ink spilt during the
taken out except for
poll.
marking the voter’s
forefinger.

Polling Officer in-

Precautions The rod should always
charge to take
for indelible be held with its
adequate precautions
ink marking end pointing
regarding indelible
vertically downwards.
kept carefully

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 8

 Marked copy of the electoral roll
• Ensure to demonstrate to the contesting
candidates/polling agents that the marked copy of the
electoral roll does not contain any remarks other than
issuing postal ballot papers, EDC and CSVs and that the
deletions appearing in the supplement are appended to
the draft roll and supplements prepared after disposal
of claims/Objections before final publication reflected
in the reprinted mother roll by strikethrough method in
the electoral roll of eight columns without photograph
• Word ‘DELETED’ superimposed on elector detail box in
case of photo electoral roll
• No other entry is deleted or altered or omitted

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 9

 Register of voters in Form 17 A

• Show to the contesting

candidates/polling agents the
Register of Voters reflecting no other
entries other than entries of each
elector No. allowed to vote with his
signature/thumb impression.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 10

 Infirm voters and women voters with babies in
arms given precedence over others

Ensure physically
Entry of voters challenged electors given
to Polling priority without waiting
Entry to the electors Station to be in the queue with facility
regulated to take wheel chair inside
the polling station

Special care to electors with speech and hearing

impairment

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 11

Ensure implementation of instructions regarding

Obtaining Sign the

Any
signature Read out declaratio
polling
Marked s of the Allowing the n and
agents
Demonstr copy of contestin them to declaratio obtain
decline to
ation of the g note n for all signature
affix their
the electoral candidate down persons s of the
signature
voting roll and s/polling their present in contestin
s, their
machine, Register agents on serial the g
names
of Voters the green numbers polling candidate
should be
paper station s/polling
recorded.
seal agents

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 12

 Enforcement of Election Law in and around
polling station

Any person doing so

will be arrested
Canvassing within without warrant by
100 meters of the the police and may
polling station is an be prosecuted under
offence under the Ban on section 130 of the
election law. canvassing: Representation of
the people Act. 1951

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 13

Enforcement of Election Law in and around polling
station

The candidates are provided one table and

two chairs for agents and workers for the
distribution of unofficial identity slips to
voters beyond a distance of 200 meters
from the polling station with an umbrella
or a piece of tarpaulin.

If any violation of
Contesting candidates can
instructions, report to the
set up election beyond 200
Candidate’s Sector Magistrate or other
meters from the polling
election officials responsible for
station, to help the electors
booth: maintenance of law and
locate their names in the
order around your polling
electoral roll.
station.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 14

 Enforcement of Election Law in and around
polling station
Steps should be taken to stop
Police can arrest and
use of a megaphone or
prosecute any person
loudspeaker interferes with
behaving disorderly only
the work without any
when persuasion and
prescribed limit of distance
warning have proved
under section.
ineffective.

Disorderly conduct in or
near the polling station

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 15

 Removal of trouble makers

Any person who misconducts may be

removed from the polling station on your
orders by any police officer or other persons
authorized by you.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 16

Removal of voting machine from polling station to be an offence
if any person, fraudulently or unauthorized takes or attempts
willfully to take a voting machine out of a polling station:

Commits a
cognizable
With fine upto
offence
five hundred With both
punishable with
rupees or
imprisonment
upto one year or

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 17

 Breach of official duty by election officers

Without reasonable cause, he commits a

cognizable offence.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 18

 Who can Enter the Polling Station?

• The polling officers

• Each contesting candidate, his election agent and one
polling agent of each candidate
• Persons authorized by the Commission such as media
persons issued with authority letters
• Public servants on duty
• A person accompanying or assisting a blind or an infirm
voter who cannot move or vote without help

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 19

 No person other than the If any person contravenes, the
Returning Officer, Presiding offence is cognizable and liable
Officer, any police officer and to imprisonment for a term,
any other person is which may extend to two year
appointed to maintain peace or with fine, or both.
and order.

Prohibition of
going armed to
or near a
polling station

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 20

 Prohibition of use of cellular phones, cordless
phones, wireless sets etc in the polling station.

As per the standing instructions of the

Commission, no cellular phones, cordless
phones, wireless sets etc., will be allowed
inside the polling stations and not even
around 100 meters radius of the polling
stations.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 21

 1 Polling Officer
st

1. In-charge of the marked copy of the roll

2. Identification of voters
3. Challenged voters, if any
 What can be ignored in case of
challenge of voter’s identity?

Discrepancies such as
elector's name, An elector with photo
father's/mother's/husb Discrepancy in the identity card issued by
and's name, sex, age serial number of the Election Registration
(only within 2/3 years) electors photo Identity Officer of another
or address in the card as mentioned in assembly constituency
electors photo identity the electoral roll shall shall be allowed
card shall be ignored be ignored provided the name is
provided identity is there in electoral roll
established.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 23

 List of dead, absent and allegedly bogus
voters
• If any name is mentioned in one of above
categories and the person appear for voting,
check the list provided by polling agent or
contesting candidate and ensure the existence of
person through formal identification procedure
as other voters

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 24

 The polling agents can
also challenge the
identity of a person.

He need to deposit
Rs.2 (Rupees two
Furnish receipt of the Challenged
only) in cash with you
same Voters
for each such
challenge

You need to do
inquiry of the same

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 25

 Procedure in case of challenge

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 26

 Procedure in case of challenge
Warn the person challenged about
the penalty for personation

Enter his name and address in the

list of Challenged Votes (Form 14)

Ask him to sign/ affix his thumb

impression

If he refuses to do so, do not allow

him to vote

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 27

 Procedure in case of challenge

Ask the challenger to produce evidence that he is not voter

If he does not provide prima facie evidence – disallow challenge

If prima facie evidence provided, ask the voter to produce

evidence that he is voter (Rebut the challenge)

If voter proves his point, allow him for voting

If he fails, hold the challenge proved

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 28

 Verification of Elector’s Identity and
procedure in case of challenge

Take support of villagers if you need to ascertain the fact

Administer oath from challengers

Enter the name in LIST OF CHALLANGED VOTES

Immediately return the challenge fee of two rupees to the challenger after
inquiry except if you find that the challenge was not done in good faith.
In that case forfeit the challenge fee to Government and do not return it to
the challenger and enter the word “forfeited” in Column 10 of Form 14 and
the relevant counterfoil in the receipt book

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 29

 Procedure in case of challenge

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 30

 Declaration of age
Minimum voting age
• Person having identity as voter can not be questioned in
any case
• In case s/he does not appears below 18 years, as per your
view:
• Inform him about penal provision in section 31 of the
Representation of the People Act, 1950, for making
false declaration.
• Obtain a declaration, as in form, that elector about his
age on the 1st day of January of the year
• Prepare a list of such voters.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 31

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 32
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 33
 2 Polling Officer
nd

1. Indelible Ink
2. Form 17A
3. Voter slip
 Application of Indelible ink
Inspection of voter’s left forefinger and application of indelible ink
• The second Polling Officer shall mark the elector’s left hand forefinger with indelible
ink
• Remove oily or greasy substance on forefinger if any

Application of indelible ink at fresh poll/ re-poll/ Countermanded poll

• At the time of fresh poll/ re-poll/countermanded poll, the marking with indelible ink
made during original poll should be ignored and fresh marking with indelible ink is
done

In case of elector with no left forefinger

• Apply indelible ink on any finger on left hand
• If no finger on left hand apply indelible ink on right hand forefinger
• If no forefinger on right hand then apply ink on any finger on right hand
• If no finger on either hand apply indelible ink on extremity ( Stump) on left or right
hand
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 35
 Record of electoral roll number of elector in Register of Voters
(Form 17A) and obtain Signature or Thumb impression of voter

In column (1) of the

register of voters, A signature may be
In column (2) of the
the second Polling described as the
said register, the
Officer will write writing of a person’s
second Polling
down the serial name on a document
Officer will write
numbers of electors with the intention of
down the electoral
in consecutive order, authenticating that
(serial ?)roll number
starting with serial document.
number 1

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 36

[Link]. Electoral roll No. Signature/ Thumb
i.e. S. No. of the Impression of
elector in the elector
marked copy of the
roll*
1

6
*For example, if the name of the first elector who comes to vote at the polling
7
station at the commencement of poll is entered at serial number 756 in the
8 marked copy of the electoral roll, the Second Polling Officer will write down
serial number 756 in the second column against serial No. 1 in the first
9
column of the register of voters. Likewise, if the second voter's name is
10 entered at serial number 138 in the electoral roll, the second Polling Officer
will write serial number 138 in column 2 against serial number 2 in column 1
of the register, and so on.
 When not allowed to vote

Literate Voter
The preferable course in the case of a literate voter will
be to request him to sign his name, i.e., both his name or
names and his surname in full.
Only mark can not be considered as signature in case
of literate voter

If literate person refuse to sign in full, his thumb

impression should be taken

If he refuse to put sign or thumb impression he should

not be allowed to vote

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 38

 Record of electoral roll number of elector in Register of Voters
(Form 17A)/ Signature or Thumb impression of voter
Illiterate voter
Unable to sign impression of left hand thumb

No left hand thumb impression of right hand thumb

Both hands thumbs impression of one of the finger

missing on left hand starting from the
fore finger
No left hand finger impression of right hand finger
starting from the forefinger

No fingers voters seek assistance of

companion (under rule 49 N)*

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 39

 Case of differently-abled voters

Thumb impression on the register of voters by blind or infirm

or leper electors, who are illiterate but can use their hand

Literate person should be allowed to put signature by writing

name

In case of infirm voters, who cannot use either of their hands,

the companion should sign or put thumb impression

A note may be made against each such entry

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 40

 Issue of voter’s slip to elector

Serial number of elector as per Col (1) of

register of votes…..
Serial no. of elector as entered in the electoral
roll……
Initials of polling officers………………….

50 or 100 slips bundle in required number is

given to you as part of polling material
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 41
 3 Polling Officer
rd

1. Collect the voter slip

2. Check the finger for indelible ink
3. Authorize the elector to vote
4. Keep the voter slip safely
 Permitting elector to vote

After elector After the voter slip

comes with the is collected from
voter's slip, the the elector, his left
All voter’s slips
Third polling forefinger shall be
will be preserved
officer in-charge checked by
and kept after
will take the you/third polling
sealing in a
voter's slip from officer in-charge
separate cover
him, check his and the elector
finger for ink and will be directed to
allow him to vote. record his vote.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 43

 Voting procedure using EVMs

The ballot unit(s) has to be activated by you/third polling

officer in-charge by pressing that unit, the 'Busy' lamp will
glow red and simultaneously the 'Ready' lamp will start
glowing green

The elector will record his vote by pressing the 'Blue Button ’on
the ballot unit against the name and symbol of the contesting
candidate of his choice.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 44

 Voting procedure using EVMs
When he presses that button, the lamp on the ballot unit against the
name and symbol of that contesting candidate will start glowing red
and green light on the ballot unit will go off.

A beep sound will be heard from the control unit.

After a few seconds, the beep sound and the red light in the
candidate's lamp on the ballot unit and the red light in the 'Busy'
lamp on the control unit will go off.

Ensured that after an elector records his/her votes, the 'Ballot' button
on the control unit is pressed for the next voter only when the earlier
voter has come out of the voting compartment.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 45

 Tallying of number of votes polled periodically

Pressing 'Total' button on the control unit will show the total number of
votes polled by that time.

Periodically tally should be done with the number of electors allowed to

vote reflecting in the register of voters.

Tally the number of votes polled every two hours interval and record in
the Presiding Officer's diary.

The 'Total' button should be pressed only when the busy lamp is not on,
i.e. only after the elector recorded his vote, and before the next elector is
allowed to vote by pressing the Ballot button.
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 46
 Presiding Officer's right to enter the
voting compartment during poll
If the ballot unit kept in the screened voting compartment is not
functioning properly

If an elector entered the voting compartment is tampering with

or otherwise interfering with the ballot unit

If elector has committed any mischief by pasting any paper,

tapes etc., on the symbol/names/ballot button

If elector has remained inside the voting compartment for

unduly long period.

Presiding Officer to enter the voting compartment in presence

of the polling agents.
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 47
 Complex situations on the poll day
1. Challenge to a voter (Chapter XVIII of the Presiding
Officer’s Handbook),
2. Voting by minors (Chapter XVIII),
3. Voting by blind or infirm voters (Chapter XXII),
4. Voters deciding not to vote (Chapter XXIII),
5. Tendered votes (Chapter XXVII),
6. Breach of secrecy of voting (Chapter XXI),
7. Disorderly conduct at the booth and removal of
disorderly persons (Chapter XVII),
8. Adjournment of poll because of riot or any other
cause (Chapter XXVIII).
 Refusal to observe Voting Procedure
If the elector refuses to observe voting procedure after warning
by you/polling officer even after issue of voter's slip, slip
should be withdrawn from him and cancelled.

A remark that– “Not allowed to vote – Voting procedure

violated”- in the remarks column in the Register of Voters
(Form 17A) against the entry relating to that elector by you.

You shall put your full signature below that entry.

No change to be done in the serial number of that elector or of

any succeeding elector in column (1) of the register of voters.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 49

 Voting by blind and infirm voters
Voting by blind and infirm voters

If you are satisfied that an elector is unable to recognize

the symbol on the ballot paper due to blindness or is
unable to record his vote by pressing the appropriate
button without assistance due to some physical infirmity,
you shall permit that elector with him a companion of not
less than 18 years of age to the voting compartment for
recording the vote on his behalf and in accordance with
his wishes
Before helping such person to cast vote, the companion
needs to make declaration as given in next slide- secrecy of
vote and that he has not accompanied more than one
person
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 50
 Voting by blind and infirm voters

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 51

 Voting by blind and infirm voters
No person shall be permitted to act as a companion of more than
one elector at any polling station on the same day

You shall keep a record of all such cases in Form 14A.

This record of blind and infirm voters in Form 14A will be kept in a
packet super scribed as “NON-STATUTORY COVERS”

None of your polling staff acts as a companion to the blind elector

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 52

 Voting by Public servants on duty
As a policy, no person will be assigned polling duties in his home
constituency.

Public servant on election duty have the option of casting their votes
through postal ballot system

They will have to apply to the Returning Officer in Form 12

The District Election Officer/Returning Officer will send you sufficient

number of Forms 12 to enable you and the Polling Officers to apply for
Postal Ballot Papers
The Returning Officer will make arrangement to facilitate their voting
and depositing the ballot paper and the connected papers at the
training centre itself

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 53

 Voting by Public servants on duty

Some female polling officers who are voters may be posted in

their home constituency

They may have been granted EDC (Election Duty Certificate).

In their cases they will vote personally at the polling station

where they are/would be posted on election duty
If for any reason, their duties is cancelled they should not be
deprived of the right to exercise their vote. They can vote on
any Polling Station other than the PS where his/her name is
registered.
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 54
 Voting by Public servants on duty
An election official or any other public servant on election duty, to
whom an EDC has been issued, should be allowed to cast his/her
vote at any polling station other than the one in for which EDC is
obtained including the polling station where he/she was originally
posted for duty
Applications from voters on election duty to vote by postal ballot
are required by law to be made at least seven days in advance

The Returning Officer may decide before the day of poll or the first
day of the poll in the constituency

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 55

 Voting by proxy
Some categories of service voters have been given the facility of
voting through proxy appointed by them.

Such voters are categorized as “Classified Service Voters”

(CSVs).

The Returning Officer will supply you a list of the CSVs

This list of CSVs is to be treated as part of the marked copy of

the electoral roll for your polling station

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 56

 Voting by proxy
Proxy voter will follow the same procedure as other voters

In the case of proxy, marking of indelible ink will be done on the

middle finger of the left hand
The proxy will be entitled to vote on behalf of the CSV in addition to
the vote that he may cast in his own name if he is registered elector in
the constituency
The serial number of elector to be entered in the second column of the
Register of Electors (Form 17A) as given in the sub-list of CSVs for
your polling station.
In the main marked copy of the electoral roll, the letters ‘PV’ (for
‘Proxy Voter’) should be suffixed in bracket.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 57

 Design of tendered ballot paper
Tender voters means some one whose identity has
been established through verification of documents as
per rules but some one has already voted in his name.

The Returning Officer will provide to each polling

station 20 additional ballot papers to be used as
tendered ballot papers

Before giving it to voters, write "Tendered

Ballot Paper" on the back of these ballot
papers in your own hand, if not already
stamped as tendered ballot papers

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 58

 A/C of Tendered votes
• Account of tendered ballot paper & Record of tender
voters
– keep a correct account of all ballot papers * received for
use as tendered ballot papers
– A/C of ballot papers issued as such to electors, and not
used and returned, in Item 8 of Part I of Form 17C
• Maintain complete record of the electors who have
been issued with tendered ballot papers, in Form 17B.
• Obtain the signature or thumb impression of the
elector in Column (5) of that Form before delivering a
tendered ballot paper to him
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 59
 Recording of votes on tendered ballot
paper
Supply an inked arrow cross mark rubber stamp
The elector concerned will mark his vote on the ballot
paper by putting the cross mark on or near the symbol
of the contesting candidate of his choice by means of
the arrow cross mark rubber stamp
The elector will then fold the tendered ballot paper and
hand it over to you
Keep all the tendered ballot papers and the list of such
tendered ballot papers prepared in Form 17B in a
cover provided for the purpose and seal the cover at
the close of the poll

In case of blindness or physical infirmity companion

shall be permitted

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 60

 Electors deciding not to vote
If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered and put
his signature/thumb impression and decides not to record his vote

Obtain If voters decide

Remark signature or after ballot
He shall not be Refused to vote thumb button on
forced or in register impression of control unit is
compelled to against his the elector pressed, direct
record his vote name and put against such the next voter
your signature remark under to voting
rule 49O compartment

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 61

 Electors deciding not to vote
• If the “Ballot” button on the control unit has been pressed to release
voting on the ballot unit for the last elector but he refuses to vote then
– Whoever is in-charge of the control unit shall put the ‘Power’ switch in
the rear compartment of the control unit to ‘OFF’ position
– Disconnect the ballot unit(s) from the control unit.
– After disconnecting the ballot unit(s) from the control unit the ‘Power’
switch should again be put ‘ON’.
– Now the ‘Busy’ lamp will go off and the ‘Close’ button will become
functional to close the poll.

• Do it care fully and step wise as if this whole process is not followed in
such a case, the ‘Close’’ button will not be functional and without closing
the control unit, it will not give the result, because the ‘Result’ button will
also become functional only after the ‘Close’ button is pressed.
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 62
 Signature/thumb
impression
Electors deciding not to vote
Electoral
Roll No.

Elector Not to Forced to vote

decides Vote

Marked Refuse to
Signature/thumb
Vote in Register impression of
elector (Rule 49Q)

Signature of PrO
If Ballot Button press!

‘Busy’ lamp off

POWER Power
Ballot
Switch Switch
Unit
“OFF” “ON”
Disconnect
‘Close’ button Functional
01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 63
 Adjournment /Stoppage of Poll

The Presiding Officer is empowered to adjourn the poll

Non-receipt or
loss or damage Disturbance of
Under section 57 A natural
to essential peace at the
(1) of the calamity like
polling materials polling station
representation flood, heavy
like voting making it
of The People snowfall, a
machine, impossible to
Act 1951 severe storm, or
authentic copy of take the poll, or
electoral roll and
the like

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 64

 Adjournment /Stoppage of Poll

The Presiding Officer is empowered to adjourn the poll

The Commission
has decided that
If there is a riot
an adjourned
or any attempt of
A passing poll may be In case of
open violence,
shower of rain or ordered at the adjournment of
police force to be
strong wind polling stations poll, you must
used to control
would not where polling report
and if cannot be
normally be a fails to start immediately the
controlled and
sufficient cause within two hours full facts to the
impossible to
for adjournment of the time Returning
continue the
of poll. scheduled for Officer
poll, you should
the
adjourn the poll.
commencement
of poll.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 65

 Adjournment /Stoppage of Poll

The Presiding Officer is empowered to adjourn the poll

Wherever a poll
Both the units of
is adjourned,
the voting
formal
machine and all Non-arrival of
announcement
election papers the polling party
to all present at
should be sealed at the polling
the polling
and secured in station due to Any other
station, that the
the presence of obstruction on sufficient cause.
poll will be taken
the polling the way or any
on a day to be
agents as if the other serious
notified
poll has come to difficulty
subsequently by
a close in the
the Election
normal way.
Commission.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 66

 Adjournment /Stoppage of Poll

Completion of adjourned poll.

The Returning Officer

will provide the
The adjourned poll will Presiding Officer with
recommence on the The electors, who have the sealed packets
date and time fixed by not voted before the containing the same
the Election poll was adjourned, marked copy of the
Commission from the will alone be permitted electoral roll and the
stage at which it was to vote at the register of voters in
left immediately before adjourned poll. Form 17A, which were
the adjournment, earlier used at that
polling station, and a
new voting machine.

01/11/2024 Learning Module for Presiding Officer 67

 Adjournment /Stoppage of Poll

Completion of adjourned poll.

The sealed packet Where the poll could

containing the marked not be commenced
copy of the electoral roll The provisions of
due to non-arrival of
and the register of voters rules 28 and 49A to
the polling party or
should be reopened by 49B will apply to the
other reasons, the
you in the presence of the conduct of an
provisions of
contesting candidates or adjourned poll also as
abovementioned rules
their agents, and this they apply to the poll
will apply to every
marked copy of the before it was so
such adjourned poll as
electoral roll and the adjourned.
they apply to the
register of voters should original poll.
be used for completion of
adjourned poll.

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 When Election is declared void?

The Election Commission has been given power to declare

the poll to be void and direct a fresh poll, if at that polling
station
• Any voting machine has been unlawfully taken away by any
unauthorised person, or
• Any voting machine has been accidentally or intentionally destroyed
or lost or damaged or tempered with and the result of the poll at that
polling station cannot be ascertained for that reason, or
• Any voting machine develops a mechanical failure during the course
of the recording of votes, or
• Any error or irregularity in procedure, which may vitiate the poll, has
been committed, or
• There has been booth capturing

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 Fresh Poll

The Election Commission has been given power to declare the poll
to be void and direct a fresh poll, if at that polling station

• If any such thing happens at your polling station, you should report to
the Returning Officer, who will, in turn, report the matter to the
Election Commission for its directions.
• After considering all material circumstances, if the Commission
directs fresh poll, such fresh poll shall be taken in the same manner as
the original poll.
• All electors entitled to vote at the polling station will be entitled to
vote again at the fresh poll. The marks of the indelible ink made at the
original poll should be ignored at the fresh poll.
• The Commission has directed that the mark of the indelible ink, in
case of a fresh poll, should be put on the voter’s left hand middle
finger to distinguish the marks to be made at the fresh poll.

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 Booth Capturing
Closing of Where the Presiding Officer is of the opinion that booth
voting capturing is taking place at the polling station, he shall
machine in immediately push the close button in the control unit of the
the case of voting machine under Rule 49X of the conduct of Elections Rules
booth 1961.
capturing
Closing the voting machine should only be done when you are
certain that the booth capturing is taking place and not on a
mere apprehension or suspicion
Once the control unit is closed, the voting machine will not
record any votes and the poll will have to be necessarily
adjourned either for the day or temporarily till the new voting
machine is provided.
Immediately report the matter to the Returning Officer.
The Returning Officer shall, in turn, report the full facts to the
Election Commission through the fastest means of
communication available.

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 Booth Capturing

The Election Either decide to have the adjourned poll by providing a

Commission new voting machine, if it is satisfied that the poll upto that
, on receipt stage was not vitiated, or
of the report
from the
Returning
Officer may Declare the poll as void, if it is satisfied that the poll was
vitiated, and direct a fresh poll at that polling station.

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 Ensure implementation of instructions
regarding: Procedure to be followed at the time
of use of new voting machine.

Declaration to be
put in separate
packet and
delivered to
At the end of the
Returning Officer
Read declaration. poll, record a
with the account
further declaration
of votes recorded
and the paper seal
account in Form
17C.

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 Complaints of Illegal hiring of vehicles for
the conveyance of voters
If any complaint received about illegal conveyance of
electors from their homes and back, action can be taken
to prosecute the offender Or the facts can be used as a
ground for filing an election petition against him.
Forward any complaint filed Sub-divisional
with remarks made from own
observation and personal Zonal/Sector
knowledge to Magistrate
Follow the instructions/directives
issued by the Election Commission
regulating the plying of vehicles on
the day of poll.

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THANKS