INTRODUCTION

POLLING PARTY

1. There is polling party which conducts the polling process on the day of the poll .2.Polling party consists of Presiding Officer and two or three Polling Officers. 3.If the number of electors is more than 1500, an additional Polling Officer may be appointed by the District Election Officer.4. Polling party reaches the polling station a day prior to the poll by specially provisioned vehicles.

ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES1.Voting machine consists of two units control Unit and Balloting Unit interconnected by cable.2. One balloting unit caters up to sixteen candidates and displays names of contesting candidates and the symbols . 3.There is a blue button on balloting unit by pressing which the voter can record his vote . 4. There is also a lamp for each candidate, which will glow red when the vote is recorded for him by pressing the said blue button.5. Balloting unit is already prepared at the RO level . By putting ballot papers and number of contesting candidate and closing candidate set section in the control unit.6. No further operation is required on the polling station except interconnecting cable to be plugged into the control unit.

BROAD OUTLINES OF DUTIES OF PRESIDING OFFICERS

1. Presiding Officer should have a clear idea of the arrangements to be made for secure secrecy of voting, regulation of queue of voters, protection of poll proceedings free from outside interference, etc.

2. Before the commencement of poll, the voting machine has to be demonstrated to the polling agents.

3. Conducting mock poll by recording a few votes at random for each of the contesting candidates and tallying the result.

4. After holding the mock poll, the votes recorded at such mock pool have to be cleared from the control unit of the voting machine so that no data relating to the mock poll remains in the memory of the machine.

5.The control unit of the voting machine has then to be sealed. By fixing the green paper seal (s) and special tag .

6. Electors shall be allowed to vote on the basis of the Voters’ slips strictly in the order in which they have been entered in the register of voters.

Contd……

BROAD OUTLINES OF DUTIES OF PRESIDING OFFICERS

7. Demonstration of the voting machine, marked copy of the electoral roll and the Register of Voters to candidates or their polling agents present and take their signature.

8. Verification of electors identity: The identity of elector should be verified by the First Polling Officer with reference to his entry in the electoral roll and EPIC or other alternative documents of identification .

9. If large number of women electors especially ‘pardanashin’ (burqa clad ) women, a woman Polling Officer may be appointed.

10. Application of Indelible ink : Then left forefinger should be marked with the indelible ink by the Second Polling Officer.

If elector does not have left fore finger should be applied to any other finger of left hand.

If no finger in left hand then ink should be applied on right fore finger.

Contd…….

BROAD OUTLINES OF DUTIES OF PRESIDING OFFICERS

11. After an elector has been identified, the entry relating to the elector in the marked copy of the electoral roll should be underlined. A tick mark (Ö ) will also be put on the left side of entry in the case of a female elector.

12. The serial number (not the name) of the elector as given in the marked copy of the electoral roll should be noted in the Register of Voters (Form 17A).

13. If an elector refuses to put his signature or thumb impression on the Register of Voters, he shall not be permitted to vote and an entry ‘Refused to vote’ will be made in the ‘Remarks’ column of the Register of Voters.

14. If elector refuses to vote, next voter straightaway proceed to the voting compartment for casting his vote.

SET UP OF POLLING STATIONS

(a) there is enough space for the voters to wait outside the polling station;

(b) there is separate waiting space for men and women as far as practicable;(c) there is separate entrance and exit for voters. (d) there is easy flow of voters from the time they enter the polling station to the time

they leave it (e) The polling agents are seated in such a way that they can see the face of an elector

as and when he enters the polling station and able to see the entire operation at the Presiding Officer’s table or the table of third Polling Officer, where the control unit is kept and also see the movement of the elector from the Presiding Officer’s table or the table of third Polling Officer.

(f) Polling agent should not have the chance of seeing voter actually recording his vote by pressing particular button;

ARRANGEMENTS AT THE POLLING STATIONS

(1) Outside each polling station there shall be displayed prominently–

(a)a notice specifying the polling area, the electors of which are entitled to vote at the polling station and, when the polling area has more than one polling station, the particulars of the electors so entitled; and (b)a copy of the list of the contesting candidates.

(2)At each polling station shall be set up one or more voting compartments in which the electors can record their votes free from observation. (3)The Returning Officer shall provide at each polling station one voting machine and copies of relevant part of the electoral roll and such other election material as may be necessary for taking the poll.

DUTIES OF POLLING OFFICERS

1. First Polling Officer : will be in charge of the marked copy of Electoral Roll and also responsible for identification of electors.

2. Second Polling Officer: will be in charge of indelible ink and register of voters in form-7A.

Put a mark with the indelible ink above the root of the nail. He will also obtained signature or thumb impression of each elector on register of 17A. Issue a voter slip to each elector after he has entered his particulars in the register.

3. Third Polling Officer: will be in charge of the Control Unit of the voting machine. To keep watch on control unit and voting process. He will be seated on the same table where the Presiding Officer sits.

PERSONS ENTITLED TO ENTER THE POLLING STATIONS

1. Polling Officers;

2. (b) Each candidate, his election agent and one polling agent of each candidate at a time;

3. Persons authorized by the Commission;

4. Public servants on duty in connection with election;

5. Observers appointed by the Commission;

6. A child in arms accompanying an elector;

7. A person accompanying a blind or an infirm voter who cannot move without help; and

8. Such other persons as you may from time to time admit for the purpose of identifying voters or otherwise assisting you in taking the poll.

SEATING OF POLLING AGENTS

Seating arrangement at the polling station for the polling agents of candidates shall be in following order;

(i) Candidates of recognized National Parties;

(ii) Candidates of recognized State Parties;

(iii) Candidates of recognized State Parties of other states who have been permitted to use their reserved symbols in the constituency;

(iv) Candidates of Registered Unrecognized Parties; and

(v) Independent Candidates

If there is enough space inside the polling station, all agents will sit inside . If there is some space, they will sit turn by turn. In case there is paucity of space , all of them will sit outside but should be able to see the proceedings inside the polling station.

COMMENCEMENT OF POLL

1. Commencement of poll as per ECI instructions at the appointed time.

2. Presiding Officer has no authority to extend the appointed polling hours or the closing

time except to continue the poll beyond the closing hour until all the electors present at

the polling station at the hour appointed for the close of poll.

PRECAUTIONS FOR INDELIBLE INK - Should be invariably applied on the left fore finger , otherwise there may be chances of impersonation .

MARKED COPY OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL

Before the commencement of poll, marked copy of the electoral roll (copy of the electoral roll to be used for ‘marking’ the names of electors who are allowed to vote) does not contain any marks or entries. Should be shown to polling agents and other persons present at the polling stations .

REGISTER OF VOTERS IN FORM 17A Should be shown to polling agents.

RECORDING OF VOTES AND VOTING PROCEDURE

1.When the elector comes with the voter’s slip the voter’s slip will be taken from him by the third Polling Officer and he will be allowed to vote.2. All voter’s slips collected from electors shall be carefully preserved3. After the voter slip has been collected his left forefinger shall be checked .4. If the indelible ink mark made thereon is indistinct or has been removed, the same shall be marked again.5.The elector shall then be proceed to the voting compartment to record his vote.6.To enable the elector to record his vote, the ‘Ballot’ button on the control unit shall be pressed by in charge of unit (PO/third polling Officer).7.The ‘Busy’ lamp in the control unit will glow red and simultaneously the ‘Ready’ lamp on each balloting unit will green and beep sound will be heard.8.The elector will record his vote in the voting compartment by pressing on the balloting unit, the ‘Blue Button’ provided against the name and symbol of the candidate of his choice. 9.After a few seconds, the beep sound and the red light in the candidate’s lamp on the balloting unit and the red light in the ‘Busy’ lamp on the control unit will also go off. This is an important indicator that vote has been successfully cast.

CHALLENGED VOTE

1. Polling agent can also challenge voters identity by depositing Rs 2 /.

2. Presiding Officer shall hold summary enquiry .

3. If challenge not established , allow the person to vote.

4. If challenge established person concerned shall debar from voting and hand over

to the police.

TENDERED VOTES

1. If a person presents himself at the polling station and seeks to vote representing himself to be a particular elector after another person has already voted as such elector, after verification of identity he will be allowed to vote by means of tendered ballot paper not by voting machine.

2. Tendered ballot will be kept in a separate cover.

ENFORCEMENT OF ELECTION LAW IN AND AROUND POLLING STATION

BAN ON CANVASSINGIt is an offence under section 130 of the Representation of the people Act. 1951 to canvass within one hundred meters of the polling station. Any person who does so can be arrested without warrant by the police and may be prosecuted .

CANDIDATE’S ELECTION BOOTH1.The candidates may provide one table and two chairs for the use of their agents and workers for the distribution of unofficial identity slips to voters beyond a distance of 200 meters from the polling station .

2. No crowd is allowed to collect around such tables.

3. Instance of violation may be reported to Sector Magistrate or other officials responsible for maintenance of law and order .

4. The polling agents should be from local polling area and should possess EPIC.

Contd………

ENFORCEMENT OF ELECTION LAW IN AND AROUND POLLING STATION

DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN OR NEAR THE POLLING STATION

Under section 131 of RP Act 1951 If any person behaves in a disorderly manner, he can be arrested by a police officer and prosecuted.

REMOVAL OF DISORDERLY PERSONS

Any person who misconducts himself or fails to obey your lawful directions during the poll may be removed from the polling station on your orders by any police officer or other persons authorized by presiding Officer .

ILLEGAL HIRING OF VEHICLES FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF VOTERS – is an offence under section 133 of RP Act .

REMOVAL OF VOTING MACHINE FROM POLLING STATION TO BE AN OFFENCE

Any person who commits such act is a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment upto one year or with fine upto five hundred rupees or with both. (section 135 read with Explanation to section 61) .

contd………

ENFORCEMENT OF ELECTION LAW IN AND AROUND POLLING STATION

B REACH OF OFFICIAL DUTY BY ELECTION OFFICERS

If any Presiding or Polling Officer is without reasonable cause guilty of any act, or even of any omission, in breach of his official duty, he commits a cognizable offence.

PROHIBITION OF GOING ARMED TO OR NEAR A POLLING STATION

1. As per the provisions of Section 134B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no person (other than the Returning Officer, the Presiding Officer, any police officer and any other person appointed to maintain peace and order at a polling station who is on duty at the polling station) can, on a polling day, go armed with arms,

2.If any person contravenes these provisions, he is liable to imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two year or with fine, or with both. The offence is cognizable.

VERIFICATION OF ELECTORS IDENTITY

1. Electors are required to produce the electoral photo identity card (EPIC) to establish their identity.

2. Those who are unable to produce the identity card for reasons beyond their control, should produce one of the alternative documents of identification specifically permitted by the Commission.

3.It’s complaint is essential to prevent impersonation.

4. Minor discrepancies in the entries relating to elector’s name, father’s/mother’s/ elector’s name, father’s/mother husband’s name, sex, age (only within 2/3 years) or address in the electors age (only photo identity card shall be ignored and the elector allowed to cast his vote so long as the identity of the elector can be established by means of that card.

5. Any discrepancy in the serial number of the electors photo identity card as mentioned in the electoral roll shall be ignored.

6. If any elector fails or refuses to produce identity card he shall not be allowed to vote .

TALLYING OF NUMBER OF VOTES POLLED PERIODICALLY

1. Polling Officer will tally the number of votes polled during every two hour interval by pressing total button.

VOTING BY BLIND AND INFIRM VOTERS

1.Blind and infirm voter are permitted to take a companion of not less then 18 years .

2.No person shall be permitted to act as the companion of more than one elector at any polling station on the same day.

3.Companion will be required to declare that he will keep secret the vote recorded by him.

4.None of the polling staff shall act as a companion .

ADJOURNMENT OF POLL FOR RIOT, ETC. RIOT, ETC.

Under section 57(1) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the Presiding Officer of a polling station is empowered to adjourn the poll on account of—

(i)a natural calamity like flood, heavy snowfall, a severe storm and the like, or

(ii)non-receipt or loss or damage to essential polling materials like voting machine, authentic copy of electoral roll and the like, or

(iii)disturbance of peace at the polling station making it impossible to take the poll, or

(iv)non-arrival of the polling party at the polling station due to obstruction on the way or any other serious difficulty, or

(v)any other sufficient cause.

STOPPAGE OF POLL FOR FAILURE OF VOTING MACHINE, BOOTH CAPTURING, ETC.

Under sections 58 and 58A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission is competent to declare the poll at a polling station to be void and direct a fresh poll, if at that polling station-

(i)any voting machine has been unlawfully taken away by any unauthorized person, or(ii)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(iii)any voting machine develops a mechanical failure during the course of the recording of votes, or(iv)any error or irregularity in procedure as is likely to vitiate the poll has been committed, or (v)there has been booth capturing (as defined the Section 135A of the said Act.).

If any such thing happens at your polling station, you should report full facts.

CLOSING THE CONTROL UNIT OF VOTING MACHINE AND ACCOUNTS OF VOTES RECORDED

1.Control unit will be closed by pressing close button on the control unit . No elector is left in the queue to vote after designated time.

2. When close button is pressed, control unit shows total number of vote .

3. Total number of vote should be noted in part-1 of form 17-C.

4. Then power button will be switched off .

5. Total number of vote recorded must be equal to voter register in form 17-A minus number of voters decided not to vote.

6. Attested copies of form 17-C should be furnished to polling agent present.

7. Voting machine should sealed and secured for transportation after disconnecting both units .

8. Presiding Officer must comlete his diary.