Sadankumar Mittapally: October 2023

DO's & DON'Ts Closing of the Poll

DO's & DON'Ts Closing of the Poll

@ Dos :

1. Close the poll at the appointed hour even if it has started late. Give numbered slips with Presiding Officer’s signature only to those electors who are in the queue at this hour starting with the last person in the queue.

2. Ensure that no additional person joined the queue after the appointed hour.

3. Ensure that after the last voter has voted as per the above procedure, the ‘CLOSE’ button is pressed on the Control Unit and Part-III of Presiding Officer’s Reports has been prepared.

4. Note the total number of votes recorded in the CU in Item 6 of Part I of Form17C.

5. At the time of closure of poll, make a note of the Poll end date and time, displayed on the CU in the Presiding Officer’s diary.

6. Switch off CU and then disconnect the BU(s) from VVPAT and VVPAT from the Control Unit.

7. Remove VVPAT Power pack in the presence of Polling Agents.

8. After the close of poll, prepare under Rule 49S, an account of votes recorded in the CU (Such account shall be prepared in Part-I of Form-17C in duplicate and copy thereof should be given to each Polling Agent.)

@ DON'Ts

1. Do not forget to make a declaration at the close of poll in Part III (Annexure- 6) under rule 49S regarding furnishing of copies of account of votes recorded, to the polling agents.

2. Don’t forget to remove VVPAT Power Pack (Battery) from VVPAT before sealing of VVPAT in its carrying case after completion of poll.

3. Do not forget to make a Presiding officer Reports at the close of poll in part IV & V in case of replacement of EVM during Mock poll or during Actual Poll as the case may be.

4. Don’t forget to press the close button on CU at the close of poll.

5. Don’t forget to intimate the SO/RO about the close of poll.

DOs & DON'Ts Commencement During the Poll

DOs & DON'Ts Commencement During the Poll

@ Dos

1. Ensure that the polling starts at the scheduled time.

2. Explain to all present, the provisions of section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 regarding maintenance of secrecy of voting and warn them of the penalty for any breach.

3. Read out the declaration as per instruction in prescribed Format.

4. Take appropriate precautions regarding handling of indelible ink.

5. Maintain visitor sheet and make entries of visitors as prescribed by the Commission.

6. Intimate the status of commencement of poll to the Returning Officer through your sector officer.

7. Before the first voter signs in Form 17A (Register of Voters), the Polling Officer 1 shall check with the Presiding Officer and record in INK in Form 17A that “Total in the Control Unit checked and found to be Zero”.

8. At regular intervals, check the Ballot Unit(s) and VVPAT to ensure that the voter has not tampered with it in any manner.

9. Check periodically the ‘TOTAL’ for each Control Unit by pressing TOTAL button on CU to ensure that the voting is going as per the serial order of electors (Total should match with voter register i.e., Form 17A last serial number).

10. Collect statistical information for compilation of items of Presiding Officer’s diary regarding polling at every two hours and sending it to RO through the specified channels.

11. If any voter wants to know how to vote on EVM, explain him with the dummy Ballot Sheet.

@ DON'Ts

1. Do not enter the voting compartment in the absence of polling agents.

2. Do not enter the voting compartment at the time of polling to explain to the illiterate voters about how to use EVM and cast their vote. Use Cardboard dummy BU for this purpose.

3. PRO or other staff should not go frequently in the voting compartment, as that may give scope for complaints.

4. Don’t operate the paper roll knob on VVPAT till the end of the poll.

5. Don’t conduct mock poll in case of replacement of only VVPAT during the actual poll. In case of replacement of entire set during poll, Mock Poll will be conducted by casting only one vote to each candidate including NOTA.

6. In case of replacement of entire set during poll don’t forget to clear mock poll data from the Control Unit and VVPAT mock slips from VVPAT in mock poll process.

7. Don’t hang any high illumination bulb over VVPAT at Voting Compartment

8. Don’t Switch ON the Control Unit at the time of connection and disconnection of Ballot Unit, Control Unit and VVPAT.

9. Don’t forget to tape the interconnecting cable of BU/VVPAT to the leg of the table with ‘transparent’ adhesive tape.

10. Don’t forget to press both side latches of connector while disconnecting the cable.

11. Don’t Switch OFF/Switch ON EVM during poll process

12. Don’t forget pressing of close button of CU after completion of poll.

Election 2023 - DO's & DONT's During the Mock Poll

DO's & DONT's During the Mock Poll

@ Dos :

1. Do go through the meaning of various displays which appear on the Display panel of the control unit.

2. Mock poll proceedings have to be video graphed, by authorized videographer, if directed.

3. For mock poll, the Ballot Unit and VVPAT should be placed in the voting compartment, where a Polling Officer should be present along with polling agents to observe operations on BU and paper slips printed on VVPAT.

4. Put paper roll locks on VVPAT in vertical position after inter connection of BU, CU and VVPAT.

5. At least 50 votes should be cast during Mock poll in the presence of Candidates/Agents.

6. Manual record of votes casted should be maintained by the Polling Officer.

7. Mock poll should be conducted with the polling agents voting at random for each of the contesting candidates including NOTA.

8. Ascertain the mock poll result from Control Unit and compare with Manual record of votes.

9. Remove the mock poll print paper slips from VVPAT drop box and Count the VVPAT printed paper slips in the presence of the polling agents and confirm that the results tally for each candidate.

10. Press the ‘Clear’ button of Control Unit before the actual poll to clear the account of votes recorded during the mock poll.

11. Empty drop box must be verified by the polling agents.

12. Follow the procedure for sealing and storage of Mock Poll VVPAT paper slips.

13. 13. Seal the drop box of VVPAT with the thread and an address tag using Presiding Officer’s seal before the actual poll starts and obtain signatures of Polling Agents thereon.

14. 14.Seal the Result section of the control unit with green paper seal, special tag and address tag, and obtain signatures of polling agents.

15. 15.Prepare Part-I of the Presiding Officer’s Reports (Mock poll certificate) and obtain signatures of Polling Agents thereon.

16. 16.Take the signatures of other polling officers in the Part-I of Presiding Officer’s Reports that mock poll votes are erased from the CU and mock poll VVPAT slips are removed from the VVPAT drop box before start of actual poll.

17. 17.At the end of Mock Poll at the PS, check and note the date and time shown in the display of the Control Unit and also the actual date and time as well as any discrepancy between the two, if any, mention it in the Mock Poll certificate and also in Presiding Officer’s Diary.

18. After completion of mock poll intimate the mock poll status to returning officer through your sector officer.

19. Micro Observer, if appointed, must have participated in all the proceeding of the mock poll and his signature has to be obtained on Part-I the Presiding Officer’s Reports (Mock poll certificate).

@ DON'Ts :

1. Don’t start mock poll, if no or only one election agent is present. Wait for 15 minutes.

2. Don’t stop mock poll without casting at least 50 votes.

3. Don’t forget to cast at least one vote to each candidate button including NOTA during mock poll.

4. Don’t keep BU, CU and VVPAT on one table for mock poll. (Keep BU & VVPAT at Voting Compartment).

5. Do not seal rear compartment of Control Unit with WAX.

6. Don’t leave any mock poll slips inside the VVPAT slips compartment after completion of mock poll on poll day.

7. Don’t keep mock poll VVPAT slips unstamped in black envelop.

8. Don’t forget to tally EVM count with VVPAT slips count during mock poll.

9. Don’t forget to fill Mock Poll Certificate (Part-I of Presiding Officer Reports) and take signatures of polling agents.

10. Don’t forget to CLEAR mock poll data from the CU before starting of actual poll. 11.Don’t start actual poll without sealing Result Section of CU and Drop Box of VVPAT and taking signatures of polling agents.

Electios 2023 - DO's & DON'Ts ARRANGEMENTS AT POLLING STATION

ARRANGEMENTS AT POLLING STATION

@ Dos :

1. All members of polling party and security personnel must be present at the Polling Station.

2. Ensure that there is enough space for the voters to wait outside the Polling Station and form separate queues for male and female voters, senior citizens and pregnant women.

3. Do ensure special arrangements for identification and application of indelible ink to Pardanas in women electors if required.

4. Ensure separate entry and exit for voters.

5. Do place the Ballot Unit(s) and VVPAT in voting compartment in such a way that no one can disturb the interconnecting cable, and the cable is fully visible and its routing does not obstruct the movement of voters inside the Polling Station.

6. Put the VVPAT lock-unlock switch for paper roll in working-vertical position before switching on the Control Unit.

7. To Maintain the secrecy of the ballot, ensure that polling officers and agents are seated in such a way that the BU, VVPAT and the voter recording his vote by pressing button on BU, is not visible to them at all.

8. Ensure three separate quees for PWD/Senior citizens, male and female elector.

9. Check the appointment letters of polling agents and explain to them the provisions of section 128 of the R.P. Act 1951. Issue them entry passes for their movement.

10. Ensure that Polling Agents appointed at the Polling Station are enrolled in the voter list of that Assembly Constituency and have EPIC or any other government approved Photo Identity Card.

11. Ensure the following:

a) A notice specifying the polling area and particulars of electors to be served by Polling Station is displayed outside the Polling Booth.

b) A copy of list of the contesting candidates in Form 7A is displayed outside the Polling Station prominently.

c) Voter Facilitation Posters and instructions are displayed on the outer wall, near the entrance of the Polling Booth.

12. A HELP DESK/ Voter Assistance Booth must be set up by BLO to provide necessary assistance to the electors.

13. Ensure that all security personnel deployed at your polling station are present.

@ DON'Ts:

1. Do not accept the hospitality of any Contesting Candidate, Political parties and local people etc

2. No cooking or lighting of fire for any purpose should be allowed inside the PS.

3. No smoking is allowed inside the PS.

4. No arms should be carried inside the PS.

5. Do not allow mobile phone inside the booth and even the cell phones of polling personnel should remain switched off/ in silent mode inside the polling booth.

6. Do not have high wattage incandescent bulbs/tube-light placed directly over or in front of the VVPAT and also no window must be opened behind EVM and VVPAT.

7. Do not expose the EVM and VVPAT to web camera/video camera so as to maintain secrecy of voting.

8. Do not appoint any person as polling officer (in unforeseen situation where polling officer cannot do his duties) who is connected to the candidate or party.

9. Don’t have any photograph of any leader or symbol of political party or slogans related to elections displayed in the PS

10. No campaign material to be displayed in and around the booth and area of 100mts around the PS.

11. No political party agent should be seated in such a way inside the booth that they have a chance to see a voter recording his/her vote.

12. No political party member other than authorized person to be allowed to sit inside the PS or within a radius of 200m around it.

13. Do not allow any photographer/ person to take pictures of a voter casting his/her vote in the voting compartment.

14. Do not allow any person other than voter and those authorities allowed by ECI to enter the polling booth.

15. No person should be allowed within the PS or within 100 mtrs. there of to wear badges, emblems etc. bearing the names of candidates or political leaders and or their symbols or pictorial representation of any kind as it may amount to campaigning.

16. Do not allow the security personnel posted at the entrance of PS to verify the identity of electors as it is the duty of the polling personnel.

17. No security jawan should be positioned inside the polling booth.

18. Do not give any special treatment to any VIP or celebrity coming to cast vote.

Elections 2023 - DO's & DON'Ts At Dispatch Center

DO's & DON'Ts At Dispatch Center

@ Dos :

1. Do ensure that you have collected all polling material as provide in the latest edition of Presiding officer handbook.

2. Do ensure that you have collected CU, BU and VVPAT pertaining to your polling station and match Unit IDs written on address tags with the metallic plate/barcode on the back side of each unit.

3. Do switch off the Control Unit after checking that the battery is fully charged.

4. Do check that the appropriate ballot paper is duly fixed on each Ballot Unit and is properly aligned under the ballot paper screen and thumb wheel switch has been set to the appropriate position.

5. Check that the paper roll lock knob in the backside of VVPAT is in the lock position (Horizontal Position) to lock paper roll, during transit.

6. Do ensure that you have received all types of Statutory and Non- Statutory Forms and Envelopes for using at polling station.

7. Do clear any or all doubts regarding Poll process or functioning of EVMs before movement from Dispatch center to the assigned Polling Station.

8. In case any discrepancy is found, inform Returning Officer.

@ DON'Ts :

1. Don’t take any EVM & VVPAT to any unauthorized place like residence, hotel, etc.

2. Don’t use vehicle other than vehicle provided by the Returning Officer for dispersal.

3. Don’t stay at any place other than designated place after the receiving of EVM’s, VVPAT and other Election materials.

4. Don’t switch ON and OFF the VVPAT as it will deplete the battery as well as paper roll causing problems during the poll.

5. Don’t connect Ballot Unit, Control Unit and VVPAT during dispersal.

6. Don’t remove any seal from BU, CU and VVPAT.

7. Do not test VVPAT at the time of dispersal and before mock poll at the polling station.

End of Poll - Submission of Covers to Returning Officer

Covers details

Statutory covers 5 Green Colour

1. Marked copy of the eloctoral roll

2. Register of voters

3. Voters slips

4. Unused tender ballot papers

5. Used tender ballots 17B

Non statutory covers 11 Yellow colour

1. Electoral roll

2. Appointment letters of polling agents form10

3. Election duty certificate

4. List of challenged votes

5. Declaraion of companions

6. List of such electors

7. Reciet book of challenged votes

8. Unused damaged paper seals

9. Unused voter slips

10. Unused damaged special tags

11. Unused damaged strip seals

Third pocket 7 Brown colour pockets

1. PO handbook

2. Vvpat manual

3. Indelible ink set

4. Self inking pads

5. Metal సీల్

6. Cross mark rubber stamp

7. Cup

Fourth pocket1 Brown colur pocket big

1. All the remaining items

Election Training Video Films

@ Training film on " EVM & VVPAT "

@ Conducting of Mock Poll

@ Polling Day Preparation

@ Special Tag

@ EVM Strip Seal

@ Blind and Infirm Votes

@ Proxy Votes

@ Challenged Votes

*☯️చాలెంజ్‌ ఓటు:

ఓటరు ఎవరైనా ఓటు వేయడానికి వచ్చినప్పుడు ఎన్నికల ఏజెంట్లు ఆ ఓటరుపై అభ్యంతరం వ్యక్తం చేస్తే సంబంధిత ఎన్నికల అధికారి ఫిర్యాదు చేసిన వ్యక్తి నుంచి రూ.2 రుసుం తీసుకుని రసీదు ఇస్తారు. వచ్చిన ఓటరు నిజమైనవారా, కాదా అని విచారిస్తారు. నిజమైన వారని తేలితే అతడికి ఓటు హక్కు కల్పించి రూ.2 రుసుంను జప్తు చేస్తారు. అతను నిజమైన వారు కాదని తేలితే ఓటరు నుంచి రూ.2 తీసుకుని ఏజెంట్‌కు అందించి ఓటు వేసేందుకు అనర్హుడిగా ప్రకటిస్తారు.

@ Tendered Votes

*🔴టెండర్‌ ఓటు*:

ఎవరైనా వ్యక్తి ఓటు వేయడానికి వచ్చినప్పుడు అతడి ఓటు ఇంతకుముందే మరొకరు వేసినట్లయితే ప్రిసైడింగ్‌ అధికారి అతడికి బ్యాలెట్‌ ఓటు ఇచ్చి వేయించాలి. దీన్ని టెండర్‌ ఓటుగా పిలుస్తారు. ఈ సమాచారాన్ని ఫారం-17బీలో నమోదు చేయాలి.

@ Under Age Voters