ORDINARY ELECTIONS TO ULBs- 2021

For Municipalities & Municipal Corporations

TRAINING PROGRAMME TO
ROS & AROS
TELANGANA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION
11-04-2021
 CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE

➢ As per Section 231 of Telangana Municipalities

Act, 2019 any officer or staff employed in
connection with the preparation, revision and
publication of the electoral rolls, and for the
conduct of all elections shall be deemed to be
on deputation to the State Election Commission
for the period during which they are so
employed and such officers and staff shall
during that period, be subject to the control,
superintendence and discipline of the State
Election Commission.
 CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE

➢Section 212 of TM Act, 2019 - Maintenance

of Secrecy of Voting:- (1) Every officer, clerk,
agent or other person who performs any duty in
connection with the recording or counting of votes
at an election shall maintain, and aid in maintaining
the secrecy of the voting and shall not (except for
some purpose authorized by or under any law)
communicate to any person any information
calculated to violate such secrecy.
➢(2) Any person who contravenes provisions of
subsection (1) shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term, which may extend to
three months or with fine or with both.
 RETURNING OFFICERS

➢The Returning Officer of Municipalities

and Municipal Corporation are
responsible for overseeing election
process right from publication of election
notice to declaration of the result.
➢He should be a well experienced officer
having conducted State and local body
elections in the past.
APPOINTMENT OF RETURNING OFFICER

➢An officer designated by the State Election

Commission or an Authority authorized by
SEC, under this Act for conduct of elections to
the offices under this Act to do any act or
perform any function in connection with the
conduct of elections for offices of Ward
Members in a Municipality / Municipal
Corporation other than GHMC.
➢The Returning Officer is responsible for
overseeing election process from the stage of
publication of election notice to till the
declaration of the results.
 APPOINTMENT OF AROs
▪ The State Election Commission or an Authority
Authorised by State Election Commission may appoint
one or more persons who shall be an Officer or Officers
of the local authority or the Government, as Assistant
Returning Officer or Officers to assist the Returning
Officer in performance of his/her functions and every
Assistant Returning Officer so appointed shall, subject
to the control of the Returning Officer, be competent to
perform all or any of the functions of the Returning
Officer.
➢Provided that no Assistant Returning Officer shall
perform any of the functions of the Returning Officer,
which relate to the scrutiny of nominations unless the
RO is unavoidably prevented from performing the said
functions.
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS

➢ Issue of public Notice of Election under

Section 195(4) Telangana Municipalities
Act, 2019 along with display of the
electoral roll of that Ward/ Wards on the
notice board.
➢ Receipt of nominations for the Offices for
which he/she is appointed as Returning
Officer;
➢ Publication of List of Nominations received
every day along with the declarations
filed;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS
➢ Scrutiny of Nomination Papers;
➢ Recording of reasons in brief for rejecting any
nomination paper;
➢ Publication of list of validly nominated candidates;
➢ Producing records before Appellate Authority on the
appeals filed on rejection of nominations by
Returning Officer.
➢ Including the names of Contested candidates in
validly nominated candidates list on appeals allowed.
➢ Receipt of notice of withdrawal of candidates;
➢ Publication of list of contesting candidates;
➢ Allotment of symbols to contesting candidates.
➢ Printing of Postal Ballot Paper and also the regular
Ballot Papers to be used at polling stations;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS
➢ Dispatch of postal ballot papers to service
voters and voters under Preventive
Detention;
➢ Dispatch of Postal Ballot Papers to employees
engaged in election duty.
➢ Conduct of trainings to the polling staff
allotted under the supervision of the
Commissioners concerned.
➢ Establishing contact with the contesting
candidates to ensure free, fair and smooth
elections;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS

▪ Motivating the candidates to upload their

nominations and declarations on the Te-Poll
software by using “Online Nomination” option
in TSEC web portal.
▪ Uploading the nomination details and
declarations filed by contesting candidates in
Te-Poll online software under “Election
Process Management System Module” of
Te-Poll application software available in the
official website of Telangana State Election
Commission “tsec.gov.in”;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS

▪ Verification of day-to-day election expenditure

accounts of contesting candidates; issue of
notices in case of defaults;
▪ Obtain the entire polling materials required
for conduct of elections to the office of Wards
from the District well in advance and re-
distribute the same to the presiding officers
concerned on the day prior to poll day;
▪ To supervise the setting up of polling stations
and other poll arrangements in the ULBs &
Inspection of 100% polling stations.
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS

▪ Ensuring observance of Model code of

Conduct from date of Notification to
Declaration of Results;
▪ Issue of Photo Voter Slips to the voters
through BLOs;
▪ Supply of election materials and dispatch of
poll parties to their respective polling stations;
▪ Effective supervision of the poll and sending
reports to the Commission/ Election Authority/
District Election Authority through the
Assistant District Election Authority;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS
▪ After completion of voting, receipt of all polled ballot
boxes and other statutory & non-statutory election
papers from the Presiding Officers concerned;
▪ To store safety the polled ballot boxes and related
election papers in Strong Room and to seal in the
presence of contesting candidates/ their election
agents;
▪ Ensuring round the clock guarding of strong rooms by
the armed police personnel.
▪ Training to Counting Supervisors and Assistants.
▪ Counting of Votes;
▪ Declaration of Result;
 DUTIES OF RETURNING OFFICERS
▪ Issue of Election Certificates to the Elected
Candidates;
▪ After completion of counting process, to handover all
sealed covers containing used and unused ballot
papers and other stationery and prescribed covers to
the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation /
Municipality concerned. The Commissioner in turn
shall deposit the same in the STO or at other place as
ordered by the C & DEA; and
▪ Uploading election results in the “Te-Poll Online
Software” under “Election Process Management
System Module” of Te-Poll application software
available in official TSEC website of “tsec.gov.in”.
 NOMINATIONS

➢Nominations in Form-II to be presented before the RO

on the date, time and at the place specified in the
Election Notice. (FORM-I).
➢Filing of nominations shall be within a period of three
(3) days from issue of Election Notice whether or not it
is a public holiday from 10.30AM to 5.00PM.
➢Nomination papers submitted after the appointed time
and date shall not be accepted.
➢Signed nomination papers must be presented by the
candidate himself or by his proposer in person. No
column, in nomination paper, shall be left blank.
 NOMINATIONS

➢Nominations received are serially numbered in the

order of their receipt (including online nominations as
and when presented in person) and note exact date
and time at which it was presented to RO and sign
thereon.
➢A candidate can file nominations for more than one
ward but he has to withdraw all but one. If not
complied all the nominations in all wards shall be
treated as void.
➢A candidate may be nominated by more than one
proposer separately for the same elective post in a
separate nomination paper.
➢A voter can propose only one candidature.
 NOMINATIONS

➢A candidate can file a maximum of FOUR

nominations for a post.
➢Acknowledge the receipt of nomination paper
and issue a notice to the candidate / proposer
indicating the date, time and place for scrutiny
of nomination.
➢Rule 7(3) of Conduct of Election Rules, 2019 -
no person shall be entitled to contest in the
elections to the office of Ward member of the
Municipal Corporations / Municipalities, for
more than one Ward.
 NOMINATIONS

➢No one shall be allowed to enter the RO’s room

after specified time on the last day to file
nominations.
➢Nomination papers of all the persons who are
inside the room at the specified time be
received and numbered serially.
➢Only 3 persons can enter in the office of RO
including contesting candidate or his/her
proposer.
➢During filing of nominations, only two vehicles
(on behalf of a candidate) be allowed to enter
within periphery of 100 meters of RO’s office.
 NOMINATIONS

➢Every candidate along with the nomination

paper, shall furnish full and complete
information regarding his / her criminal
antecedents, assets & liabilities and
educational qualifications in the form of a
self declaration duly attested by two
witnesses.
➢Immediately after expiry of the hour fixed
for receipt of nominations, RO shall publish
all nominations received on that day in
Form-III.
 NOMINATIONS

➢Apprise the candidates or their proposers that any

false information given or information suppressed
in the declaration filed by the candidate along with
nominations, is an offence under section 177 of IPC
read with section 195 of Cr.PC-1973 and
prosecution shall be launched.
➢As soon as a nomination paper is received, RO
should preliminarily examine it then and there, and
satisfy that the security deposit has been made and
the Form is filled completely with the signature etc.
You are not required to hold a detailed scrutiny of
any nomination paper at this stage.
 NOMINATIONS

➢Deposit to be remitted by the candidates in elections to

ULBs as follows-

Office For SC/ST/BC For others

candidates
Ward Member, Rs. 2,500/- Rs. 5,000/-
Municipal Corporation
Ward Member, Rs. 1,250/- Rs. 2,500/-
Municipalities
 NOMINATIONS

➢If there is any discrepancy between the entry in the

electoral roll in respect of the name of the candidate or
of his / her proposer or their respective Sl.Nos in
electoral roll, you should then and there draw the
attention of the candidate or his/her proposer who
presents the nomination paper, about such discrepancy
and allow him/her to correct the same then and there.
You are not empowered by law to allow any other entry
to be corrected.
➢At the time of presentation of nomination paper, each
candidate should be supplied with copies of orders and
instructions issued by State Election Commission for
maintenance and lodging of Accounts of Election
Expenditure.
 NOMINATIONS

➢In the “Election Process Management System”

Module of Te-Poll Software, RO to enter the
entire data / information pertaining to the
election process right from nomination stage to
till declaration of results and the same will
automatically be published in the official
website of TSEC i.e. tsec.gov.in.
➢The Nominations and Declarations filed by the
candidates shall be scanned and uploaded in
the Te-Poll Software on the same day of its
receipt with the help of the concerned Municipal
Commissioners.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

➢It is an important quasi-judicial function to be

performed by RO. RO has to discharge this duty
complete judicially in accordance with the Acts and
Rules with highest judicial standards.
➢The Returning Officer is required by law to hold the
scrutiny of the nomination papers received by him at
the specified place on the date and time specified in the
election notice under Section 195 of TM Act, 2019 and
under Rule 5 of Conduct of Election Rules-2019.
➢The scrutiny of nomination papers should be done only
by the Returning Officer. This work should not be
entrusted to the Assistant Returning Officer or anyone
else.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

➢The candidate, one proposer of each

candidate and one other person duly
authorized in writing by candidate are
allowed to be present at the time of scrutiny.
➢The candidate and the persons
accompanying him/her can make any
substantial or material objection but not
raise flimsy or irrelevant technical objections
in regard to any nomination paper.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

➢If any objection is raised on any nomination

paper, The RO has to hold a summary inquiry to
decide the same and to treat the nomination
paper to be either valid or invalid and record
his/her decision.
➢The Returning Officer should take up one
nomination paper after another in order in
which they are shown in Form-III and scrutinize
them. If, however, more than one nomination
paper is presented by or on behalf of one
candidate, then he/she should take them up
together and scrutinize them one after another.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

➢Section 11 & 12 of TM Act, 2019

deal with qualifications and
disqualification of Ward Member of
Municipal Corporations and
Municipalities.
➢The qualification or disqualification
of a candidate should be related to
the date fixed for scrutiny of
nominations.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

➢Do not reject any nomination paper on the

ground of any defect which is not of a substantial
character. Any mistake or error of a technical or
clerical nature should therefore, be ignored.
➢The nomination of a candidate shall not be
rejected merely on the ground of any incorrect
description of his/her name or the name of
his/her proposer or of any other particulars
relating to the candidate or his/her proposer as
entered in the electoral roll, if the identity of the
candidate or proposer, is otherwise established
beyond reasonable doubt.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

GROUNDS FOR REJECTION:

➢Candidate is ineligible for election under Section 12
(Schedule – IV) of TM Act, 2019.
➢If name of the proposer is not registered in the
electoral roll of the concerned Ward.
➢If the name of the candidate is not registered in the
electoral roll of ULB.
➢If the nomination paper has been delivered by a person
other than the candidate or his/her proposer.
➢If the nomination has not been delivered at the place
specified in the election notice issued by the Returning
Officer as the case may be.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

GROUNDS FOR REJECTION:

➢If no declaration is filed with regard to his/her
criminal antecedents, assets & liabilities and
educational qualifications as per provisions
specified in Rule 8(3) of Telangana Municipalities &
Municipal Corporations (Conduct of Election of
Members) Rules, 2019.
➢If the deposit required has not been made in
accordance with the law.
➢If the nomination paper is not substantially in the
prescribed form.
 SCRUTINY OF NOMINATIONS

GROUNDS FOR REJECTION:

➢If the nomination has not been signed either by the
candidate or by the proposer or by both at the places
meant for such signature in the nomination paper
➢If the signature of the candidate or his proposer is not
genuine.
➢If a candidate files a nomination paper to contest a
seat reserved for ST/SC/BC or Women and the
candidate does not belong to such reserved category.
➢Immediately after completion of scrutiny of all
nominations, the RO shall publish a list of validly
nominated candidates in Form-IV for Municipal
Corporations/ Municipalities respectively.
 APPEAL AGAINST REJECTED NOMINATIONS

➢As per Rule 12 of Telangana Municipalities & Municipal

Corporations (Conduct of Election of Ward Members)
Rules 2019, candidate for the office of ward member
whose nomination paper has been rejected may prefer an
appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer before
District Election Authority or Addl. DEA or Dy. DEA as
authorized by DEA concerned immediately next day of the
scrutiny of nominations.
➢The District Election Authority or Addl. DEA or Dy. DEA as
the case may be shall dispose of the appeal immediately
next day of the day of filing appeal.
➢NOTE: The appeal can be filed only against
rejection of nomination and not against
acceptance.
 WITHDRAWAL OF CANDIDATURE

➢Any candidate may withdraw his/her candidature by

notice for Municipalities & Municipal Corporations
under sub-rule 13 (1) in Form–V signed by him/her
and delivered personally or by his/her proposer or
election agent to RO along with authorization letter at
any time after the filing of his nomination paper and
not later than 3.00 O’ Clock in the afternoon on the 7th
day, whether or not it is a public holiday.
➢The RO on receiving a notice of withdrawal under
sub-rule 13 (1) shall, as soon as may be, cause a
notice of the withdrawal to be published in
Form-VI.
 WITHDRAWAL WHEN MULITPLE
NOMINATIONS ARE FILED

➢A candidate may file nominations for more than

one Ward for Municipalities and Municipal
Corporation but he/she shall withdraw his/her
nominations to all but one Ward by the time
fixed for withdrawal of candidature, failing
which, all his/her nominations shall become
invalid and he/she shall not be allowed to
contest from any Ward as per Rule 7, of
Conduct of Election Rules, 2019.
 FORM – A & Form - B

➢Elections to the ULBs are conducted on

party basis.
➢To nominate candidates, the President or
the General Secretary or the highest
functionary in the State of the Recognized
and Registered Political Parties which are
registered with TSEC shall arrange to
furnish Form – A and Form – B within the
stipulated period in the manner
prescribed.
 FORM – A & Form - B
▪ The following categories of Political Parties which are registered with the
Telangana State Election Commission are entitled for submission of Form-
A and Form-B:
Sl Category of Political Party Symbol Notification of the
No. TSEC
1 Recognized National Parties
2 Recognized State Parties in the State Comes under Table-I of the
of Telangana Symbol Notification issued by
the TSEC
3 Recognized State Parties in other
States
Registered political parties allotted
common symbol under para 6 of
Symbol Order
4 Comes under Table-II of the
Registered Political Parties with a
Symbol Notification issued by
reserved symbol
the TSEC
Comes under Table-III of the
Registered Political Parties without a
Symbol Notification issued by
reserved symbol
the TSEC
 FORM – A & Form - B
➢The outer limit for submission of Form-A to the Collector and
District Election Authority concerned is 5.00 pm on the last date for
making nominations. The outer limit for submission of Form-B to
the Returning Officer concerned is 3.00 pm on the last date for
withdrawal of candidature.

▪ Procedure for submission of Form – A & Form – B:

➢The State President, General Secretary or highest functionary in
the State of any a recognized National / State Political Party /
Registered Political Party with or without a reserved symbol
registered with the State Election Commission can i) either
authorize a party functionary in Form-A to set up their party
candidate in a District or any areas within the District and send
such Form duly signed by him/her to the District Election
Authority/the District Collector concerned or ii) can directly set up
the candidate and send details to the Returning Officer concerned
in Form-B.
 FORM – A & Form - B
➢Form-A signed by the Party President or General Secretary and
the Form-B signed by the authorized party functionary can also
be directly submitted to the concerned Returning Officer within
the stipulated time.
➢In case the Form-B signed by the State President or General
Secretary of a Political Party is submitted to the Returning
Officer with in stipulated time, there is no need for Form-A in
such case.
➢In cases where Form-B is issued parallelly to several candidates
without rescinding earlier ones, for the same ward, the Form-B
in respect of the candidate whose nomination is first submitted
to the Returning Officer as that Party candidate shall be
accepted and that political party symbol to be allotted to that
candidate by the Returning Officer. The remaining candidate(s)
shall not be treated as candidate(s) set up by that party.
 FORM – A & Form - B
➢ Where a candidate has made a declaration in his/her
nomination paper that he/she has been set up by a
political party but could not produce authorization in
A and B Forms as mentioned earlier from the political
party concerned within the stipulated time, he/she shall
be treated as an independent candidate.
➢Where a candidate has not made a declaration in any
of his/her nomination papers that he/she has been set
up by a particular political party, he/she shall not be
deemed to have been set up by that party even if that
party gives him/her intimation to that effect in Form A
and Form B subsequently, and he/she shall not be
allotted the symbol reserved for that party. He/she shall
be treated as an independent candidate.
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢On the expiry of the time for withdrawal of candidature,

RO shall prepare in Telugu alphabetical order, a list of
contesting candidates in Form-VII separately for each
Ward.
➢For the purpose of listing, the names of the candidates
shall be classified into four categories as indicated
below as elections are conducted on party basis:
i. Candidates of Recognized National and State Political
Parties registered with the State Election Commission.
ii. Candidates of Registered Political Parties registered with
TSEC with a reserved Symbol.
iii. Candidates of Registered Political Parties registered with
TSEC without a reserved Symbol.
iv. Independent candidates.
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢The names of the candidates in Form-VII in

each of above categories shall be arranged in
Telugu alphabetical order as written in the
nomination paper of the candidates, on the
basis of first letter of their name irrespective of
whether the name given is a proper name or
surname. However, the serial numbers for
candidates of all above four categories shall be
given consecutively and not separately for each
category.
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢If the proper name of a candidate

precede the surname, the first letter of
the proper name shall be taken into
consideration for the purpose of
arranging name in the list of contesting
candidates.

Eg: If the name is written as సరోజ అత్తిలి;

‘స’ to be taken for arranging in Form-
VII .
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢Initials, if any prefixed to the name of the

candidate shall be ignored for the purpose of
arranging name in the list of contesting
candidates.
➢If two candidates falling in the same category
bear the same name but different initials, then
two names should be arranged inter se with
reference to the first letter of the initial.
Eg: ఎ. వి. సుగుణ prevails over జి. యం. సుగుణ in
Form-VII .
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢If two or more candidates falling in the same category

bear the same name, surname/initials, they may be
distinguished by adding the suffix “son of / daughter of
/ wife of ….. or by addition of their occupation or
residence or in some other manner” as may be
appropriate. Name of the father / mother / husband can
be obtained from the nomination paper. In such cases,
the names of the candidates shall be arranged in the
List of Contesting Candidates in the order in which their
nominations were received by the Returning Officer.
Eg: ఎ. వి. సుగుణ w/o రమేష్ filed her nomination earlier
than డా. ఎ. వి. సుగుణ w/o మహేష్. Hence, A.V. Suguna w/o
Ramesh prevails over A.V. Suguna w/o Mahesh in
Form-VII .
 PUBLICATION OF LIST OF CONTESTING CANDIDATES
AND ALLOTMENT OF SYMBOLS

➢There will be no objection to the addition of any honorific,

academic, hereditary professional or any other title to the
name of a candidate but such title should on no account be
taken into consideration in the arrangement of names in
alphabetical order.
➢It should be noted that, on the ballot paper, the
names of the candidates shall be printed in same
serial order as they appear in the List of Contesting
Candidates in Form-VII. The distinguishing additions
/ suffix i.e., occupation/ residence/ son of/daughter
of/wife of etc., mentioned above shall not be printed
on the ballot paper. However, the addition of any
honorific, academic, hereditary professional or any
other title to the name of the candidate as mentioned
in para 8 may be printed on the Ballot Paper.
 DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS

➢If there is only one validly nominated candidate

after the last hour for withdrawal of candidature
for the office of Ward, the Returning Officer
shall forthwith declare such candidate as duly
elected in Form-VIII and the Returning Officer
shall grant such candidate a Certificate of
Election in Form-XXVII.
➢The Returning Officer concerned should furnish
final list of contesting candidates of the Ward of
concerned ULB to the District Election Authority
and also upload these details in Te-Poll software
available in the web portal of TSEC .
 POSTAL BALLOT PAPER

➢The ballot papers for the elections of Member, contain

the names of the contesting candidates and their party
affiliation if any. No symbol is to be printed in Postal
Ballot Paper.
➢Rule 22 Corporation(other than GHMC) & Municipalities
as case may be of conduct of election rules deal with all
matters relating to voting by postal ballot.
➢RO shall issue postal ballot papers to following voters
who are eligible to vote by post
a) Service voters and their wives;
b) Voters subjected to preventive detention;
c) Voters on election duty who opt for postal ballot;
The above postal ballot papers shall be on printed
paper (or) typed basing on their requirement.
 POSTAL BALLOT PAPER

➢ Service voters - members of the Armed Forces of the

Union and members of the Armed Police Forces of the
State serving outside the State and their spouses. Such
list shall be obtained from District Election Authority by
Municipal Commissioner concerned and handed over to
the concerned Returning Officer.
➢ Returning Officer concerned shall prepare and post
within 48 hours after the last hour of withdrawal of
candidature to the Service Voters & their spouse.
➢ RO should note down the electoral PS No. and Serial
number of the voter as entered in the last part of the
marked copy of the electoral roll on the counterfoil of the
postal ballot paper.
➢ RO should put the letter "P.B." against the entry of the
voter in the marked copy of the electoral roll.
 PRINTING OF REGULAR BALLOT PAPERS

➢The ballot paper with the names of

the contesting candidates and
symbols allotted to them shall be
printed along with NOTA as per
Form-VII for Municipal Corporation
and Municipalities.
 PRINTING OF REGULAR BALLOT PAPERS

➢ASSESSMENT OF REQUIREMENT AND

PRINTING OF BALLOT PAPERS:
• The number of Ballot Papers required for each
Ward may be worked out basing on number of
voters with 10 percent reserve and rounded off to
the nearest 50. The number of Ballot Paper to be
supplied to each polling station should be equal
to the number of the voters allotted to the polling
station rounded off to the nearest 10.
▪ The arrangements for printing of Ballot Papers
required for your Corporation/Municipality will be
made by the District Election Authority.
 PRINTING OF BALLOT PAPERS

➢ASSESSMENT OF REQUIREMENT AND

PRINTING OF BALLOT PAPERS:
• RO should furnish to the District Election
Authority the list of contesting candidates in
Form-VII immediately after the same has
been prepared after the last hour fixed for the
withdrawal of candidatures and the allotment of
symbols to the candidates.
• Detailed instructions were issued in TSEC
circular No.2840/TSEC-ULBs/2019, dated
29.11.2019.
 PRINTING OF BALLOT PAPERS

➢Identification of offset printing presses by the District

Collector:
➢Colour of the ballot paper shall be white wove paper.
➢Rates for printing shall be finalized through District
Purchase Committee.
➢A Nodal Officer shall be appointed to coordinate
between ROs and the presses.
➢Security arrangements shall be made by the DEA by
posting adequate Police personnel at printing presses.
➢Place indent with DMA for supply of wove paper.
➢The SEC will arrange for supply of CD for containing
symbols reserved for Recognized and Registered
Political Parties and also free symbols.
 SIZE, SPECIFICATIONS OF BALLOT PAPER

➢Every ballot paper will have a counter foil attached to

it.
➢The counter foil shall be at the top of ballot paper and
its depth should not exceed 6 cm.
➢The counter shall contain the following:
(i) Space for stitching at the top
(ii) A black border of 5mm at the top.
(iii) On the top of front face of the ballot paper shall be
printed as follows:
(a) Municipality Code No. and Name of the
Municipality/Municipal Corporation.
(b) Ward No.
(c) Ordinary Elections to ULBs, 2020
 SIZE, SPECIFICATIONS OF BALLOT PAPER

➢The serial no. of the ballot paper on the lower

left hand side of the counterfoil.
➢The words “signature / thumb impression”
shall be on the lower right side of the counter
foil.
➢Leave some place for signature or thumb
impression just above the words
“signature/thumb impression.”
➢There shall be one chain border of 1.5 cm
width and a perforated rule/disjointed straight
line below it, for separating the Ballot paper
from the counterfoil.
 SIZE, SPECIFICATIONS OF BALLOT PAPER

➢The ballot paper shall contain the names of

contesting candidate and the symbol allotted to
them.
➢The width of ballot paper is 4 inches.
➢The names of the contesting candidates appear on
the left side and their symbols on the right side in a
panel.
➢The depth of the space allotted to each candidate is
3 cms and the depth of the shaded area between the
space allotted to any two symbols is 1.2 cm.
➢A thick black border of 5 mm width at the bottom of
the ballot paper.
➢ROs shall ensure thickness and sharpness of all the
symbols should be uniform in the ballot papers.
 PRINTING OF REGULAR BALLOT PAPERS

➢Ascertain the printing press allotted to your

ULB by DEA. Be in touch with liaison officer
appointed. Once block is prepared, read the
same.
➢Ensure that names of candidates and
symbols allotted are correctly printed as per
Form-VII
➢Once confirmed, issue strike order with
requirement.
➢Once printed, verify the serial number on
counter foil and ballot paper.
 PRINTING OF REGULAR BALLOT PAPERS

➢ULB wise packing.

➢To verify printed ballots and to
satisfy that they belong to your ULB
only.
➢Transport to ULB Head Quarters
under proper security
➢Polling Station wise sorting and
packing of ballots shall be completed
in advance of the distribution date.
 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

➢Model Code of Conduct comes into operation

from the day the Commission issues the
schedule for election and it is applicable to
the entire ULB concerned.
➢Maintain a healthy and peaceful atmosphere
during the election period which would be
conducive for ensuring a free, fair and
peaceful election
➢MCC is applicable to Contesting Candidates,
Election Agents, Political Parties, Ministers,
Government Employees and local body
employees.
 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

➢Prosecution shall be launched against the

violators of the provisions of MCC under IPC,
TM Act and other enactments
➢Teams have to be constituted to monitor
strict implementation of the MCC
▪Static Teams
▪Mobile Teams
➢Publicity: Provisions of MCC, Illustrative list
of DO's' & DON'Ts', Legal provisions electoral
offences and corrupt practices and
Commission’s directions may be explained in
the meetings with contesting candidates.
 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

CURB MISUSE OF
➢Vehicles of Government/PSUs
➢Government Buildings
➢Government Officials/Machinery.
➢Close watch on vehicles for any possible
mischief or criminal activities like carrying of
illegal arms, illicit liquor, and antisocial
elements to seize such vehicles not to be
released till election process completed –
Penal actions under relevant law also be
taken
 MEASURES AGAINST DISFIGUREMENT OF OPEN PLACES

▪ Act No 28 of 1997: provides for Prevention of Disfigurement

of open places.
▪ Section 4: whoever affixes to, or inscribes or exhibits on any
place open to public view any advertisement without the
written consent of the owner or occupier or person in
management of the property in which such place is situated
shall be punished with imprisonment for 3 months Or with
fine or both.
▪ Section 5: Abetment of the offence is also an offence inviting
similar punishment.
▪ Section 6: Any SI or above rank police officer or other officer
authorised for the purpose may remove, erase, or otherwise
pull down any such advertisement / hoardings / banners /cut
out.
▪ Section 18: The burden of proof for written consent shall lie
upon the accused.
 APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION AGENT

➢Under Rule 17 for Municipalities & Municipal

Corporations Conduct of Election Rules, 2019
every person nominated as a candidate, may
appoint in writing a person to be his/her election
agent in the prescribed FORM-IX.
➢A candidate may revoke appointment of his/her
election agent in writing and such revocation will
be operative from the date on which it is lodged
with the Returning Officer.
➢In the event of such revocation or of death of an
election agent, the candidate can appoint another
person to be his/her election agent in Form-IXA.
 APPOINTMENT OF POLLING AGENT

➢A Candidate or his/her election agent may appoint one

agent to act as polling agent for each polling station in
FORM-X for Corporations and Municipalities to observe the
polling i.e., whether the poll process is in orderly, free and
fair manner.
➢A person to be appointed as polling agent shall be a
resident within polling area of that polling station and
possesses a valid identity.
➢Any revocation of an appointment of polling agent shall be
signed by the candidate or his/her election agent in
FORM-XA prescribed and such revocation will be operative
from the date & time on which it is lodged with the
Returning Officer.
➢In the event of such revocation or of death of an polling
agent, the candidate can appoint another person to be
his/her polling agent.
 APPOINTMENT OF COUNTING AGENT

➢A Candidate or his/her election agent may appoint as

many counting agents as there are counting tables in
connection with counting of votes in FORM-XI for
Municipal Corporations and Municipalities.
➢Any revocation of an appointment of counting agent
shall be signed by the candidate or his election agent
in FORM-XIA prescribed and such revocation will be
operative from the date on which it is lodged with the
Returning Officer.
➢In the event of such revocation or of death of a
counting agent anytime before the counting of votes,
the candidate can appoint another person to be his
counting agent
 APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION/POLLING/COUNTING AGENT

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS SHALL NOT BE

APPOINTED AS ELECTION / POLLING /
COUNTING AGENT
▪ Any sitting Minister of Union and State
Government;
▪ Sitting Member of Parliament;
▪ Sitting Member of Legislative Assembly/Legislative
Council;
▪ Mayor of a Corporation, Chairperson of
Municipality;
▪ Chairperson of Zilla Praja Parishad and President of
Mandal Praja Parishad, Sarpanch of a Gram
Panchayat or any sitting Member of any Mandal
Praja Parishad or Zilla Praja Parishad;
 APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION/POLLING/COUNTING AGENT

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS SHALL NOT

BE APPOINTED AS ELECTION / POLLING
/ COUNTING AGENT
▪ Elected Chairperson of National / State /
District co-operative Institution;
▪ Political functionaries appointed as
Chairpersons of Central PSUs / State PSUs,
Chairpersons of Government Bodies,
Government Pleader / Additional Government
Pleader;
▪ Any Government servant.
▪ Any person under security coverage.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Polling Stations
➢As soon as the list of contesting
candidates is published, you should
calculate exactly the required number of
ballot boxes and other polling materials
for conduct of poll in your Jurisdiction.
➢RO shall obtain a approved list of
Polling Stations from the
Commissioners/ADEAs concerned in
advance and personally inspect them.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Polling Stations
➢if it comes to notice of RO, at any time, that
the owner of a building in which a Polling
Station is located is a candidate or a known
sympathizer or worker of a candidate at the
election, the RO should immediately bring it
to the notice of the District Election Authority
through the Commissioners concerned and
take action to shift the Polling Station to any
other building within that Ward.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Setting up of Polling Stations

➢Voting compartment shall be provided and so
located as to prevent any breach of secrecy when
voter is actually voting.
➢To ensure sufficient lighting in voting compartment
enabling the voters to have clear visibility of
symbols on ballot papers for effective voting.
➢Ensure that there is enough space for the voters to
wait outside the polling station.
➢Easy flow of voters from the time they enter the
polling station to the time they leave it and there is
no criss-cross movement within the polling station;
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Identification of critical Polling Stations -

Mapping of vulnerability
➢The Station House Officer and local civil
authorities such as Commissioners of
Corporations and Municipalities as the case
may be and Tahsildars will finalize the list.
➢Identify the habitations and segments of
electorate vulnerable to any threat,
intimidation or interference with the free
exercise of electoral right polling station wise
➢take into account the past incidents and
raising apprehensions.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Identification of critical Polling Stations -

Mapping of vulnerability
➢Identify the source of threat/ intimidation/ undue
influence and identify the names of persons who are
likely to spearhead such offence
➢Re-poll reported due to malpractices, and where
electoral violence has taken place during last election
➢Anti social elements and their areas of influence.
➢To create confidence among such vulnerable sections.
➢All ULBs where percentage of Poll recorded is more
than 75% and where more than 75% of these votes
have been recorded in favour of one candidate in a
Ward shall be identified as critical Polling Stations.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Measures to be taken up in such polling

stations:
➢The presence of sufficient police force to safeguard the
polling station.
➢Digital camera or video camera shall be positioned in all
polling stations where it has been identified as critical/
hypersensitive.
➢Deployment of Micro-Observers.
➢The Presiding Officer shall be specially briefed to ensure
that the EPIC/approved identification document
prescribed by the Commission, if any, are properly verified
and reflected name or serial number of the said
document.
➢To verify the identity of votes mentioned in ASD list
critically.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

Measures to be taken up:

▪ Undertake Web casting. The volunteers
operating the Web-casting and Micro
Observers shall be guided to be extra careful
to see that, the cameras capture all the voters
moving in the Polling Stations in clear and
identifiable form, excepting when they are
focusing on any other more important scene.
➢ensure that the web-cameras are not put-off
or directed towards inconsequential events
besides ensuring that the feeds are properly
stored and preserved for use subsequently.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

POLLING PERSONNEL

➢The District Election Authority or any other

officer authorized by him will appoint the
Presiding Officer and other Polling Officers for
each polling station.
➢Te-Poll Software developed by TSEC shall be
utilised for building database, issue of
appointment orders, creation of polling parties
and allotment to the polling stations at
random.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

POLLING PERSONNEL
➢Arrange poll rehearsals and training to the
polling personnel.
➢Generally Polling personnel shall not be drafted
on election duty, within their native and their
official division/ Circle.
➢RO shall make arrangements to reach the
polling personnel and polling materials to the
polling station one day before the date of poll.
Necessary arrangements shall also be made in
advance for supply of food and to stay of
women polling personnel.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

ONE DAY BEFORE POLL

➢Receive the entire election material required for

elections to that Ward from the distribution
centre and thereafter distribute the same to
Presiding Officers as per the requirement for
each Polling Station
➢Ensure sufficient no. of ballot boxes and paper
seals to each PS.
➢Marked copies (5) of electoral rolls for each PS.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

ONE DAY BEFORE POLL

➢Distribution of required no. of ballot papers for
each polling station.
➢Distinguishing Mark – The numerator indicates
code number of the ULB and Ward No. and the
denominator indicates the serial number of the
polling station
➢The distinguish mark shall be stamped on the
back of each ballot paper and counter foil before
it is issued to the elector and also signed in full by
the Presiding Officer on the back of the Ballot
Paper. This job has to be completed well in
advance by Presiding Officer.
 POLL ARRANGEMENTS

ON DAY OF POLL
➢The poll shall commence at 7.00 AM and close at 5.00
PM on the date specified.
➢ARRANGEMENTS AT POLLING STATIONS –
a. Display a notice specifying the polling area, the
serial number of electors in the electoral roll who
are entitled to vote at the polling station.
b. List of contesting candidates and symbol assigned
to them shall be displayed (as per Form-VII).
➢There shall be only one ballot box in operation at any
time inside the polling station for inserting the polled
ballots.
 ELECTORAL OFFENCES

The common offences are :-

a. Impersonation of voters;
b. Bribing of voters;
c. Intimidation of voters (and other
persons);
d. Canvassing within 100 meters of a
polling station;
e. Transportation of voters to and from
polling stations by a candidate or his
workers or supporters.
 ELECTORAL OFFENCES

IMPERSONATION AND TENDERED VOTES

➢Wide publicity shall be given that where an
elector finds that his/her vote has already been
cast, he/she should demand for a tendered vote
and that he/she should avail that facility
provided by law.
➢Report forthwith to the State Election
Commission, through the District Election
Authority the polling stations where, tendered
votes cast are equal to or in excess of zero
point one percent (0.1%) of the total number
of votes polled in a polling station.
 ELECTORAL OFFENCES

IMPERSONATION AND TENDERED VOTES

➢If a person representing himself to be a particular
elector seeks to vote after another person has already
voted as such elector, he shall, on, satisfactorily
answering such questions relating to his identity as the
Presiding Officer may ask, be entitled, subject to the
following provisions of this rule, to mark a ballot paper.
➢A tendered ballot paper shall be the same as the other
ballot paper used at the polling except that it shall be-
(a) serially the last in the bundle of ballot papers
issued for use at the polling station; and
(b) endorsed on the back of the ballot paper and its
counterfoil with the words "Tendered Ballot Paper" by
the Presiding Officer in his own hand and signed by
him.
 ELECTORAL OFFENCES

IMPERSONATION AND TENDERED VOTES

➢The elector, after marking a tendered ballot paper
in the voting compartment and folding it, instead of
putting it into the ballot box, gives it to the
Presiding Officer, who shall place it in a cover
specifically kept for the purpose.
➢Returning Officer concerned shall not open the
ballot boxes and shall not count the votes
pertaining to such polling stations where tendered
votes cast are equal to or more than 0.1%, until
further orders are received from the State Election
Commission; as the Commission may direct for re-
poll in these polling areas basing on the
circumstances.
 COMPULSORY IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS

➢The electors have to produce EPIC card

or any one of the documents approved by
State Election Commission at the polling
station to establish their identity at the
polling station. SEC specified list of
documents to be produced by the Elector
in polling station vide circular No.
2872/TSEC-ULBs/2019, dated 16.11.2019.
 VOTER SLIP’S

PHOTO VOTER SLIPS DISTRIBUTED BY

THE OFFICIAL MACHINERY
➢Photo voter slips shall be distributed by the
District Administration to facilitate voter to
know the location of the polling station and
his/her serial number in electoral roll.
➢The official machinery can generate photo
voter slip form Te-poll software.
➢Voter can also directly download the voter slip
from web portal of TSEC i.e., tsec.gov.in.
 VOTER SLIP’S

ISSUE OF IDENTITY SLIPS BY THE

POLITIAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES
➢Political parties and candidates may issue
identity slips containing the following
information to the voters:
i. Name and serial number of the voter in the
Electoral Roll;
ii. Polling Station number and name;
iii. Location details of the Polling Station; and
iv. Date and horus of Poll
 VOTER SLIP’S

ISSUE OF IDENTITY SLIPS BY THE

POLITIAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES

➢The identity slips should be on white paper and

should not contain the name of the candidate
and/or the name of his party and/or his election
symbol. The slips should not contain any
slogans or any exhortation to vote for a party or
for a candidate.
 COUNTERMAND OF POLL

➢Rule 16 for Corporations and

Municipalities Conduct of Election
Rules, 2019 respectively stipulates
adjournment of poll only in the event of
death of a candidate set up by a
recognized political party or a candidate
setup by a registered political party to
whom a symbol is reserved by the State
Election Commission.
 COUNTERMAND OF POLL

➢In the following circumstances the poll shall be

adjourned:-
(a) the said candidate dies at any time after 10:00
a.m. on the last date for making nominations and
his nomination is found valid on scrutiny; or
(b) his nomination has been found valid on
scrutiny and he has not withdrawn his candidature,
and he dies, and in either case a report of his death
is received at any time before the publication of the
list of contesting candidates; or
(c) he dies as a contesting candidate and a report
of his death is received before the commencement
of the poll.
 ADJOURNMENT OF POLL
➢Under Section 227 of TM Act, 2019, the Presiding
Officer of a polling station is empowered to adjourn the
poll on account of
a) natural calamity like flood, cyclone and the like, or
b) non- receipt or loss or damage to essential polling
material like ballot boxes, ballot papers,
authenticate copy of the electoral roll and the like
or
c) disturbance of peace at polling station making it
impossible to take the poll or,
d) non-availability of polling party at a polling station
due to obstruction on the way or any other serious
difficulty or
e) any other sufficient cause.
 ADJOURNMENT OF POLL

PROCEDURE FOR COMPLETING THE ADJOURNED

POLL
➢Report the circumstances immediately to the DEA, EA
and TSEC.
➢seek the approval of the TSEC of the date, hours and
place which RO proposes for holding the adjourned poll
➢after the receipt of the Commission's formal approval,
inform the contesting candidates or their election
agents in writing;
➢affix a notice on your notice board notifying the date,
hours and the polling station so fixed; and
➢announce by beat of drum or otherwise in the polling
area concerned the date, hours, and the polling station
so fixed.
 ADJOURNMENT OF POLL

➢Under the provisions of Rule 90 for Municipal

Corporations and Municipalities Conduct of
Election Rules, 2019, the adjourned poll will
recommence from the stage at which it was left
immediately before the adjournment.
➢The electors who have not already voted
before the poll was adjourned will alone be
permitted to vote at the adjourned poll in other
words the electors who have already voted at
the poll so adjourned shall not be allowed to
vote again.
 ADJOURNED POLL

RO should provide the Presiding Officer at Polling Station,

the sealed packets pertaining to the adjourned poll
containing –
▪ marked copy of the electoral roll,
▪ stitched bundles of ballot papers with their
counterfoils
▪ counterfoils of used ballot papers received earlier from
the presiding officer of the polling station concerned at
which the poll was adjourned
▪ a new ballot box
▪ any other papers directed by the State Election
Commission
RO shall not count votes cast at such election until
such adjourned poll has been completed
 POLL INCIDENTS

DESTRUCTION OF BALLOT BOXES

➢Under Section 228 of TM Act, 2019 read with rule 55 of
Conduct of Elections Rules, 2019 the State Election
Commission is competent to declare that the poll at a
polling station to be void, if at that polling station -.
a. any ballot box has been unlawfully taken away by
an unauthorised person, or
b. Any ballot box has been accidentally or intentionally
destroyed or lost or damaged or tampered with and
you are satisfied that the result of the poll at that
polling station cannot be ascertained for that
reason, or
c. any error or irregularity in procedure as is likely to
vitiate the poll has been committed.
 POLL INCIDENTS
(COUNTERMANDING OF POLL)

BOOTH CAPTURING
➢Under Section 229 of TM Act, 2019 if booth capturing
has been taken place at a polling station in such a
manner that the result of the poll of that polling station
cannot be ascertained, the State Election Commission
shall, after taking all material circumstances into
account, either
a. declare the poll at that polling station to be void
and direct a fresh poll to be taken on a date to be
appointed by it; or
b. countermand the election if it is satisfied that in
view of the large number of polling stations
involved in booth capturing the result of the
election is likely to be affected.
 AT END OF POLL

RECEIPT OF POLLED MATERIAL FROM POs

➢Reception centre shall be the counting centre.
➢There shall not be any transit reception centre.
➢Make necessary arrangements for receipt of
polled ballot boxes and other election material
Ward wise at the reception centre and place
them in strong rooms.
➢The RO should earmark inside the strong room
specified parts of the floor space in the form of
squares in advance for stacking the ballot boxes
received from particular polling stations.
 AT END OF POLL

RECEIPT OF SEALED COVERS BY THE PO AT

RECEPTION CENTRE
➢The following sealed self printed BROWN
colored covers and polled ballot boxes in a
special counter.
(i) Ballot Paper Account;
(ii) Declarations by PO before and after poll;
(iii) Paper Seal Account;
(iv) Diary of the Presiding Officer; and
(v) Visit Sheet
 AT END OF POLL

RECEIPT OF STATUTORY COVERS IN A SPECIAL

COUNTER.
➢GREEN coloured packets of “STATUTORY COVERS”-
(i) Marked copy of the Electoral Roll;
(ii) Signed but unused ballot papers, with counterfoils;
(iii) Other unused ballot papers with counterfoils;
(iv) Tendered ballot papers and the list;
(v) Ballot Papers cancelled for violation of voting procedure;
(vi) Other cancelled Ballot Papers;
(vii) Counterfoils of used ballot papers including of tendered
Ballot papers issued if any; and
(viii) Any other papers directed by the State Election
Commission to be kept in a sealed cover/packet.
 AT END OF POLL
RECEIPT OF NON STATUTORY COVERS
➢YELLOW colored packet of “NON-STATUTORY COVERS” –
(i) Copy or copies of electoral roll (other than the marked copy);
(ii) Appointment letters of Polling Agents
(iii) Election Duty Certificates if any;
(iv) List of blind and infirm electors and the declarations of the
companions;
(v) Sealed cover containing the List of Challenged Votes;
(vi) Declarations obtained from electors as to their age and the list
of such electors;
(vii) Receipt book and cash, if any, in respect of challenged voters;
(viii) Unused and damaged paper seals; and
(ix) Any other paper that the PO has decided to keep in the sealed
cover.
 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST POLLING STAFF

Wherever specific allegations of serious

nature are made in writing against the Presiding
Officer or the polling staff about their conduct
during polling at an election, the Returning
Officer should enquire into the matter
immediately and send the papers together with
his report to the District Election Authority.
Where, however, the complaint is trivial, the
Returning Officer should exercise his discretion in
deciding whether it deserves to be enquired into
or not.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

PERSONS ENTITLED TO BE PRESENT AT THE TIME

OF COUNTING
▪ The following persons are entitled to be present at the
time of counting:
i. the candidate;
ii. the election agent of each candidate;
iii. one counting agent for each candidate at counting
table of that ward;
iv. counting staff including the Class-IV Government
Servants drafted for duty; and
v. persons authorized by the State Election
Commission.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢Counting shall be continuous till it completes.

➢Decide the number of assistants you require, in order
to complete the counting in reasonable time.
➢Employ sufficient number of class IV Government
Servants also to carry the ballot boxes etc.
➢The procedure for counting of ballots is prescribed in
rules 56 to 62 of Conduct of Election of Members Rules,
2019. The same is also described in the Chapter –
XVIII of the Hand Book for Returning Officer for
Municipalities & Municipal Corporations. In Circular
No.2897/TSEC-ULBs/2019, dated:21.11.2019 containing
illustrations for determining the validity of the ballots.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢Before the commencement of counting, read out

and explain to the Counting Assistants, the rules
and procedure to be followed in counting the votes.
➢Before the commencement of the counting of
votes, RO shall read out and explain the provisions
of the Section 212 of TM Act, 2019 as the case may
be for the information of all present and for
compliance on their part.
➢Every person inside the counting hall is required by
law to maintain, and aid in maintaining, the secrecy
of voting and should not communicate to any
person any information calculated to violate such
secrecy
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢They should note that any person contravening

the provisions of law in this respect is liable to
be punished with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to 3 months or with fine or
with both (Section 212 of the TM Act, 2019).
➢Before commencement of counting, RO should
verify the Presiding Officer’s diaries one by one
and satisfy that the Presiding Officers have
recorded their observations in the relevant
columns of the diary and infer that poll went on
peacefully and orderly.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢Under Rule 56 for Municipalities & Municipal

Corporations Conduct of Election to Members Rules,
2019 the postal ballot papers are to be counted first.
➢Covers in Form-XVII containing postal ballot papers
received after the hour fixed for the commencement of
the counting of votes should not be opened. They
should be rejected and kept in a separate packet and
sealed.
➢As each cover is opened, RO should take out the
declaration in Form –XV and scrutinize it.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢If the declarations are not found in the cover or the

declaration has not been duly signed and or not attested
by an officer competent to do so or is otherwise
substantially defective or if the serial number of ballot
paper appearing in the declaration is different from the
serial number on the covers prescribed containing the
postal ballot paper should not be opened but the ballot
paper should be rejected.
➢Each such rejected cover should be endorsed suitably by
RO and the declaration should be placed in the cover. All
such covers should be kept together in a separate packet
duly sealed and full particulars such as the name of the
ULB and Ward No. and the date of counting and a brief
description of contents should be noted thereon for easy
identification.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢All the declarations in Form XV for Corporations and

Municipalities which have been found to be in order,
should then be kept in separate packet in order to
ensure that the secrecy of the postal ballot is kept
inviolate.
➢Thereafter the covers should be opened one after
another and scrutinize the validity of the ballot papers.
➢The total number of postal votes received by each
candidate should then be calculated, entered in the
Result Sheet in Form-XXIV in the appropriate place
and announced for the information of the candidates.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

REJECTION OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPER

i. if no vote is recorded thereon; or
ii. if votes are given on it in favour of more candidates than
one; or
iii. if it is a spurious ballot paper; or
iv. if it is so damaged or mutilated that its identity as a genuine
ballot paper cannot be established; or
v. if it is not returned in the cover sent along with it to the
elector by you; or
vi. if the mark indicating the vote is placed on the ballot paper
in such a manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate
the vote has been given; or
vii. if it bears any mark (other than the mark to record to vote)
or writing by which the voter can be identified.
 COUNTING OF VOTES IN BALLOT BOXES

➢Counting of votes of Wards shall be done in two stages.

Stage-I is initial counting and Stage-II is detailed
counting.
➢In case of ULBs where average number of voters per
ward is ≤2000, arrange one counting table for every
two wards.
➢In case of ULBs where average no. of votes per ward
exceed 2000, arrange one counting table for every one
ward.
➢There is no bar on arranging one counting table for one
ward exclusively if sufficient space and counting staff
are available.
 COUNTING OF VOTES IN BALLOT BOXES

➢However ensure that a counting table is attached to

one RO only i.e, No counting table be shared by two
Returning Officers.
➢All the ballot boxes used at the polling stations of that
Ward shall be counted at that ear marked table only.
➢The RO shall supervise initial and final counting at their
respective table.
➢A counting table should not open ballot boxes of more
than one polling station at a time.
➢Before a ballot box is opened, allow the counting
agents and the candidates present to check and satisfy
themselves that the seals on the box are intact and
have not been tampered with.
 COUNTING OF VOTES
➢ Initial counting:
➢ Check the identity of the box with reference to the serial number of the
paper seal and signature of polling agents on backside. Ensure that it
belongs to the ward and also stands allotted to that counting table.
➢ The number of ballot papers in the ballot box or boxes shall tally with the
Ballot Paper Account of the concerned polling station as recorded by the
Presiding Officer.
➢ All the ballot papers of the Ward contained in the ballot box or boxes of
the concerned Polling Stations are taken out without unfolding them. Then
they will be bundled into 25 each separately and tallied with ballot paper
account prepared by Presiding Officer. The balance odd number of ballot
papers will be separately bundled and kept with a slip indicating the
number on it.
➢ All the bundles containing the full number of 25 ballot papers will be
placed inside a drum or other receptacle kept near the RO/ARO concerned
and mixed properly. The odd numbered bundles will be aggregated at the
end of initial counting for the Ward and mixed in the drum. At the end
there can at the most be one bundle with less than 25 votes, which may
be identified suitably with a tag.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

Detailed Counting of Ballot Papers

➢40 bundles, each containing 25 ballot papers, so as
to make 1,000 ballot papers, will be taken at random
from the drum or receptacle and detailed counting
will be taken up at the concerned counting table. For
sorting out candidate wise polled ballots and doubtful
votes, big wooden trays having the compartments
equal to number of contesting candidates including
NOTA+1 for doubtful votes will be used at each
counting table.
➢Once candidate wise and doubtful votes are
separated at counting table, they shall be bundled
separately, noted in the counting sheet and sent to
the RO pigeon hole.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

Detailed counting:
➢ The detailed counting ballot paper shall also be
taken up at the counting tables earmarked for the
Ward.
➢Each ballot paper should be scrutinized for validity
and voter preference. All valid ballot papers should
be made out into candidate wise bundles of 100
each.
➢All the ballots of that are suspected to be invalid
should be considered as doubtful by the Counting
table. Doubtful ballot papers should be made out
into separate bundle and submitted for further
scrutiny by the RO concerned.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

REJECTION OF BALLOT PAPER

i. if it bears any mark or writing by which the
elector can be identified, or
ii. if it bears no mark at all to indicate the vote, it
bears a mark elsewhere than on or near the
symbols of one of the candidates on the face of
the ballot paper or, it bears a mark made
otherwise than with the instrument supplied for
the purpose, or
iii. if votes are given on it in favour of more than one
candidate, or
iv. if the mark indicating the vote thereon is placed in
such manner as to make it doubtful as to which
candidate the vote has been given, or
 COUNTING OF VOTES

REJECTION OF BALLOT PAPER

v. if it is a spurious ballot paper, or

vi. if it is so damaged or mutilated that its identity as
a genuine ballot paper cannot be established, or
vii. if it bears a serial number, or is of a design,
different from the serial numbers, or, as the case
may be, design, of the ballot papers authorized for
use at the particular polling station, or
viii. if it does not bear both the distinguishing mark and
the signature of PO which it should have borne
under the provisions of Rule 45 for Corporations
and Municipalities Conduct of Election Rules,2019.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

Detailed Counting of Ward Ballot

Papers
➢The doubtful votes shall be decided by the
Returning Officer concerned only.
➢Segregate the doubtful votes candidate /
NOTA wise (or) rejected votes depending
on each case.
➢Compile Ward wise, round wise, table wise
result and to declare the results by the RO
concerned.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢As soon as the counting is completed, the RO will

record in the result sheet in the Form-XXIV
prescribed for Corporations and Municipalities the
total number of votes polled by each candidate
including NOTA and announce the same.
➢Declaration in Form XXV the candidate to whom
the largest number of valid votes have been given
to be elected for the seat.
➢If two candidates contesting any seat happen to
secure the highest number of votes and their votes
are equal in number, the result will have to be
decided by lot.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢While drawing lots among the candidates

who polled equal number of highest votes,
you should write each candidate’s name on
5 slips of the same colour and size of the
paper and all those slips should be folded
tightly twice equally and then jumbled to
make them mix beyond recognition. After
such mixing, you should draw the slip.
➢The candidate, whose name is first drawn
shall be declared to have been elected.
 RECOUNTING

➢The Returning Officer shall announce

the no. of votes polled by each
candidate and pause for a few
moments.
➢If there is a request for recount, RO
shall give a renaissance time of 15
minutes and not sign the Final sheet
until the expiry of the time so
announced.
➢Consider the grounds urged and decide
the matter.
 COUNTING OF VOTES

➢If there no recount, RO shall sign the result

sheet in Form-XXIV and send copies to the
District Election Authority, Election Authority
and State Election Commission.
➢Finally RO shall declare result in Form XXV and
send signed copies thereof to the District
Election Authority, Election Authority and the
State Election Commission.
 SEALING AND SAFE STORAGE OF COUNTED BALLOT PAPERS
Etc.

➢After counting is over, make separate

bundles of candidate wise valid polled ballot
papers and invalid ballot papers.
➢Then make these bundles into another large
packets and seal it with RO’s seal.
➢The RO shall allow the candidates / Election
agents / counting agents to affix their seals if
they desire so.
➢Other packets which have been opened
should also be closed; a description of the
contents should be recorded on such
packets.
 SEALING OF COUNTED BALLOT PAPERS/ELECTION PAPERS AND
THEIR SAFE CUSTODY

➢The sealed packets containing all election papers shall

be kept in sealed steel trunks.
➢Steel trunk shall be locked and sealed and should be
dispatched to the District Election Authority at his head
quarters on the same day or not later than noon of the
following day.
➢The DEA should forthwith arrange to deposit them in
safe custody in the Treasury/Sub Treasury under
double lock.
➢The packets contained election papers shall not be
opened and their contents shall not be inspected by, or
produced before any person or authority except under
the order of a election tribunal or other competent
court.
 COUNTING OF VOTES
ADJOURNMENT OF COUNTING
▪ In case it is necessary to suspend or adjourn the
counting before its completion for any unavoidable
circumstances, seal all the ballot papers in packets, also
all other papers relating to the election. Allow every
candidate or his/her agent, if he/she desires to do so,
to place his/her seal on every packet etc., in which
these papers are kept.
▪ keep all the sealed packets, etc., in a steel or strong
almirah or in a separate room and have the almirah or
the room sealed and secured with the seals of RO and
the candidates or their agents.
▪ Report the facts to SEC and wait for the decision.
▪ Take further action as instructed by the SEC.
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES

➢SECTION 235 of TM Act, 2019 stipulates that, ‘every

candidate, at any election held under this Act shall, either by
himself, or by his election agent, keep a separate and correct
account of all expenditure incurred in connection with the
election, between the date on which the candidate has been
nominated, and the date of declaration of the result of the
election, both dates inclusive.
➢The total of the said expenses shall not exceed such amount
as specified by the State Election Commission for the
respective office.
➢The Commission specified the maximum election expenditure
can be incurred by the Contesting candidates is as follows:
▪ Member, Mpl. Corporations - Rs.1,50,000/-
▪ Member, Municipality - Rs.1,00,000/-
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES

MAKING ELECTION EXPENDITURE A PUBLIC

DOCUMENT
➢The SEC issued Notification that the daily returns and
periodical returns of the expenditure should be made
transparent by making them available to the public and
other contesting candidates. RO shall make available
photo copies of the returns to other candidates, any
member of the public or Non-Govt. Organizations on
demand and on payment of Xeroxing charges or a
certified copy as per Section 76 of Indian Evidence Act,
1872 and to the media, free of cost, so as to enable them
to assist the State Election Commission in effectively
implementing the ceiling imposed on election expenditure
to be incurred by the contesting candidates.
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES

➢SECTION 236 of TM Act, 2019

stipulates that,-
▪ every contesting candidate at an election
shall, within forty five days from the date
of declaration of the result of the election,
lodge with the DEA, an account of his/her
election expenses, which shall be a true
copy of the account kept by him, or by
his election agent under Section 236 of
TM Act.
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES
▪ As per Sch.IV (3) of Section 12 of TM Act,2019
Failure to lodge an account of election expenses
within the time limit prescribed and in the
manner required by or under this Act is liable to
disqualify for a period of three years to contest
any election held for any office under this Act
and to have ceased to hold office, in case
he/she is elected.
▪ As per Rule 103 of Conduct of Election Rules,
2019, the DEA shall, within two days from the
date on which account of election expenses has
been received by him/her, cause a notice to be
affixed on his notice board specifying the details
of the expenditure accounts.
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES

▪ As per Rule 105 (1) Conduct of election rules,2019

as soon as may be, after the expiration of the time
specified in Section 236 of TM Act, 2019 for the
lodging of the accounts of election expenses at any
election, the DEA shall report to the State Election
Commission the names and details of the candidates
who have submitted and not submitted within
stipulated time in separate list.
▪ As per sub-rule (4) of Rule 105, the Commission
shall by notice in writing call upon the candidate to
show cause why he/she should not be disqualified,
and declared to have ceased to hold office under
Section Sch.IV (3) of Section 12 of TM Act,2019 for
the failure in case he/she is elected.
 ACCOUNT OF ELECTION EXPENSES

▪ As per sub-rule (5) of Rule 105, the candidate within

twenty days of the receipt of such notice, submit his/her
explanation in respect of the matter a representation in
writing to the State Election Commission and send a
copy to DEA.
▪ As per sub-rule (6) of Rule 105, the DEA, shall, within
five days of the receipt thereof, forward to the SEC, the
copy of the representation and the account, if any, with
such comments as he/she wishes to make thereon.
▪ As per sub-rule (7) of Rule 105, after considering the
above remarks, if the State Election Commission is
satisfied that the candidate has no good reason or
justification for the failure, the Commission shall declare
him/her by an order made under Sch.IV (3) of Section 12
of TM Act,2019 to be ineligible for a period of three
years, from the date of the said order.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For the guidance of Returning Officer,

State Election Commission issued
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in the
following subjects.
➢ FAQs for guidance of Returning officers
for ULBs Elections.
➢ FAQs on Model Code of Conduct.
 COVID-19 GUIDELINES

▪ Sanitizers at all places

▪ Face mask Compulsory

▪ Social Distancing at all places