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निर्वाचन ज्ञानकोश › Counting — Checklists and Flowcharts

Counting — Checklists and Flowcharts

Rajasthan ULB General Election 2026 · Member (ward) posts · 14 September 2026

For printing: laminate each checklist on a separate page. Tags explained in SOURCES.

🔗 Every citation tag is clickable in CITATIONS — it opens the source PDF at the exact page.

Chart A — The whole counting day



> ## 🚨 M3A exception to line 6 of the chart *(order 5446, 04.08.2026, point 13(ii))*
>
> Line 6 above — *"ECIL MPSV/MPMV CU NOT sealed — only SDMM/DMM sealed"* — is correct **for those two
> models only**. **On a BEL M3A the WHOLE machine is sealed: CU *and* BU.**
>
> | Model | Sealed after counting |
> |---|---|
> | ECIL **MPSV** | the **SDMM** only |
> | ECIL **MPMV** | the **DMM** only |
> | 🚨 **BEL M3A** | **the whole machine — CU and BU** |
>
> ⚠️ **Do not generalise "the CU is never sealed" to an M3A booth.**┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BEFORE                                                                    │
│  1 week before poll date → written notice to candidates (Rule 57) [¶3(4)] │
│  2 days before counting  → agents' photo list + Form-19          [SO 151] │
│  1 hour before counting  → Form-19 declaration signed; photo badge[¶6(2)] │
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ START — explain s.128 (secrecy) to everyone present               [¶9]    │
│ Entry: only 4 categories — counting staff · SEC-authorised ·              │
│        public servants on duty · candidates/election agents +             │
│        one counting agent per table                                       │
│ 🚫 Ministers (unless a candidate) · 🚫 smoking · police normally not [¶8,¶10]│
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. POSTAL BALLOTS FIRST                                          [¶11(1)] │
│    Envelope-B (16-ग) received late → rejected unopened, sealed            │
│    Scrutinise 16-क declaration → defective? → do NOT open Envelope-A      │
│    Correct declarations → separate packet → then open 16-ख → scrutinise   │
│    7 grounds of rejection (a–g) · RO's decision final       [SO 157 ¶7]   │
│    Candidate-wise + NOTA valid votes → Form-21 · announce   [SO 157 ¶10]  │
│    🚫 postal counting must finish before EVM counting finishes    [¶11(1)] │
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. EVM COUNTING — polling-station-wise                          [¶12–20]  │
│    CUs to tables in station order (station 1 → table 1) · chart on board  │
│    Box seal check → CU out → seal inspection → serial number verified     │
│    🚨 Paper seal serial ↔ Form 14-ग Part-I item 9                 [¶16]    │
│    ON → remove seal over result button → Result-1 → candidates + NOTA[¶18]│
│    Form 14-ग Part-II; total = Part-I item 5; signatures           [¶20]   │
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. Form-21 = machine votes (incl. NOTA) + valid postal votes (incl. NOTA) │
│    No grand total until any re-poll result is included           [¶21(2)] │
│    🚨 Verify the grand total — discrepancy = strict disciplinary action    │
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. Declare → pause 1–2 minutes → recount demand?                 [¶22(2)] │
│    Written application; reasons recorded; RO's decision final    [¶22(3)] │
│    After result sheet completed and signed — no demand accepted  [¶22(6)] │
│    🚨 NOTA does not affect result; highest votes elected          [¶22(4)] │
│    Tie → immediate lottery + record + VIDEOGRAPHY                  [¶26]  │
└────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 5. Form-22 declaration · Form-23 certificate + receipt (to SEC)  [¶26–28] │
│ 6. ECIL MPSV/MPMV CU NOT sealed — only SDMM/DMM sealed           [¶29(1)] │
│    Other CUs: remove battery → seal sections → box → address tag  [¶29(2)]│
│    (address tag now also carries the DATE OF COUNTING)                    │
│ 7. Paper packets sealed (Rule 74-क) · iron chest, 2 locks, both sealed[¶30]│
│ 8. Record proceedings + signatures + sealed envelope               [¶31]  │
│ 9. Same day → treasury, two locks · armed guard until transport    [¶32]  │
│10. Same day → oath to elected members (for chairperson election)[closing] │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Checklist 1 — RO: before counting

Venue [¶3] - [ ] Counting at municipality headquarters - [ ] One building (DEO may select two in a Municipal Corporation) - [ ] One ward counted together in one room; if partitioned, each room has a separate ARO in charge - [ ] 🚫 Not in a temporary structure - [ ] Hall sufficiently large · properly lit - [ ] Double and adequate security in the premises · no crowding

Notices - [ ] Written notice to candidates/election agents — at least one week before the date of poll [¶3(4)] - [ ] Fresh written notice if date/time/place changes [¶3(4)] - [ ] Counting-agent arrangements told along with the Rule 57 notice [¶6(7)] - [ ] DEO informs political parties at district level [¶6(8)]

Staff [¶5] - [ ] Number of tables decided in advance (from wards and polling stations) - [ ] One table = one counting supervisor + one counting assistant - [ ] Supervisors gazetted or equivalent; assistants as far as possible at Supervisory Post level - [ ] 🚫 No one connected with a party/candidate; no urban body office staff - [ ] Training completed including reserve staff - [ ] Assistants for sealing EVM/SDMM/DMM and papers appointed with DEO's approval - [ ] Tables serially numbered in large wards; adequate space to sit

Counting agents [¶6], [SO 151] - [ ] 2 days before: photo list + Form-19 (duplicate, passport photo affixed) received - [ ] Photo signed by the agent and certified by the candidate/election agent - [ ] Number not exceeding the number of tables (including the RO/ARO table) - [ ] Photo badges prepared — badge no., name, candidate, ward, room, table; RO's signature and seal - [ ] Register of badges maintained - [ ] Photo badges for candidates and election agents too

Table stationery [¶7] - [ ] Blue ink ball-point pen · knife/blade · Form 14-ग · two sheets of paper

Checklist 2 — RO: at the start of counting

  • [ ] Section 128 (secrecy) explained to everyone present [¶9]
  • [ ] Entry restricted to the four categories [¶10(1)]
  • [ ] 🚫 Minister not admitted (unless a candidate) [¶10(3)]
  • [ ] 🚫 Smoking prohibited [¶8]
  • [ ] Police normally not in the room (call only for law and order) [¶10(2)]
  • [ ] Candidates/agents told no re-entry after leaving [¶6(3)]
  • [ ] Counting agents only at allotted tables; candidate/election agent may go to any table [¶6(9)]
  • [ ] Only the counted ward's candidates/agents in the room; designated waiting room for others [¶6(10)]
  • [ ] CUs distributed in polling-station order; chart on the board [¶12(1)]
  • [ ] 🚨 If any report went to the SEC under rule 55(1) → SEC clearance obtained BEFORE opening the count — "shall not commence counting of votes till he gets a clearance" [rule 55(3), Manual printed p.97] · the bar is not confined to one polling station
  • [ ] 🚨 Was the poll ADJOURNED at any polling station (rule 53)? → do not open that ward's count at all until the adjourned poll is completed [rule 53(2)]; and on any rule 53/55/62-A report the whole ward's remaining count stops, resuming only on the Commission's direction [order 4650, 04.11.2019]
  • [ ] One consolidated, complete report for all such cases across every polling station of the municipality, on the Commission's model form

Checklist 3 — RO: postal ballots (first)

  • [ ] Taken up first, in the same room [¶11(1)]
  • [ ] 🚫 Envelopes received after the fixed time not opened; rejected unopened, kept separately, sealed, particulars written [¶11(2)], [SO 157 ¶1]
  • [ ] Envelope-B (16-ग) opened one by one [SO 157 ¶2]
  • [ ] Declaration in Form 16-क scrutinised FIRST [SO 157 ¶2]
  • [ ] Declaration absent / not duly signed and attested / serial number differs from Envelope-A → 🚫 Envelope-A not opened; endorsed and ballot rejected [SO 157 ¶3]
  • [ ] Such Envelope-A + their 16-क declarations back into Envelope-B → all such Envelope-B into one separate large packet, sealed (municipality · ward · date of counting · contents) [SO 157 ¶4]
  • [ ] Correct 16-क declarations into a separate packet, sealed [SO 157 ¶5]
  • [ ] Only then begin opening Envelope-A (16-ख) [SO 157 ¶5]
  • [ ] Each ballot scrutinised; validity decided [SO 157 ¶6]

Seven grounds of rejection [SO 157 ¶7] — (a) identifying mark/writing · (b) no vote / vote on the back · (c) more than one candidate, or candidate + NOTA · (d) spurious · (e) damaged — identity not establishable · (f) not returned in the envelope sent · (g) mark makes it doubtful whom the vote was given to

  • [ ] 🚫 No rejection on any other ground
  • [ ] "Rejected" marked on each + reason endorsed [SO 157 ¶9]
  • [ ] Reasonable opportunity to inspect given before rejection — 🚫 not allowed to touch [SO 157 ¶8]
  • [ ] Explanation I — "X" or "✓" with ballpen/ink is sufficient; not rejected over the instrument used
  • [ ] Explanation II — indistinct or repeated mark, but intention clear → not rejected
  • [ ] Candidate-wise + NOTA valid votes counted, recorded in Form-21 and announced [SO 157 ¶10], [¶11(4)]
  • [ ] Separate bundles of valid and rejected made, tied and labelled separately
  • [ ] ✅ Both bundles together in ONE packet — rule adopted: the later document prevails [2292 ¶11(5)] > A departmental working decision, not an SEC ruling — GAPS §2 > (compare: [SO 157 ¶11] says separate packets; both agree the bundles are separate)
  • [ ] Packet sealed with the RO/ARO's seal + the seals of willing candidates/agents
  • [ ] Packet inscribed municipality · ward number · date of counting · brief description of contents

✅ Updated 23.08.2026 — this is no longer a departmental call. The original text of rule 74-A(1)(b) — "used postal ballot papers weather valid, rejected or cancelled, and counter-foils thereof" — puts valid and rejected into a single packet category, which fits [2292 ¶11(5)] exactly. Full reasoning → §9.7-A of the RO/ARO handbook.

Checklist 4 — Counting supervisor: for each CU

  • [ ] Presiding Officer's seal on the carrying box checked [¶13(2)]
  • [ ] CU taken out; strip seal, special tag, pink paper seal shown to candidates [¶13(3)]
  • [ ] CU serial number = the CU issued for that station [¶14]
  • [ ] Candidate Set Section seal is the one affixed before issue [¶14]
  • [ ] Candidates/agents given the opportunity to inspect and satisfy themselves [¶15]
  • [ ] Outer cover opened → inner cover seal checked → two paper seals [¶16(1)]
  • [ ] 🚨 Paper seal serial ↔ Form 14-ग Part-I item 9 matched; candidates allowed to match [¶16(1)]
    • [ ] No match → do not decide yourself; inform the RO/ARO [¶16(2)]
  • [ ] Power ON → green light [¶18(1)(i)]
  • [ ] Paper seal over the result button removed [¶18(1)(ii)]
  • [ ] Result-1 pressed → candidate-wise + NOTA [¶18(1)(iii)-(iv)]
  • [ ] Entered in Form 14-ग Part-II, candidate-wise + NOTA in its prescribed column [¶18(1)(v)]
  • [ ] 🚨 Part-II total = Part-I item 5 [¶20(1)]
  • [ ] Counting supervisor's signature + candidates'/agents' signatures [¶20(1)]
  • [ ] Cover closed → CU switched OFF [¶18(3)]
  • [ ] Form 14-ग handed to RO/ARO [¶20(2)]
  • [ ] (if BEL MK-V/M3A) BU connected to the CU [¶18(4)]

Checklist 5 — RO: result and declaration

  • [ ] Form-21 = machine candidate-wise votes (incl. NOTA) + valid postal votes (incl. NOTA) [¶21(1)]
  • [ ] No grand total struck until the re-poll result is included [¶21(2)]
  • [ ] 🚨 Grand total verified [¶21(3)]
  • [ ] Total votes of each candidate and NOTA declared [¶22(2)]
  • [ ] Proceedings paused 1–2 minutes [¶22(2)]
  • [ ] Recount demanded → time for a written application ascertained; if reasonable, permitted and announced [¶22(2)]
  • [ ] Application considered on its grounds; reasons recorded briefly [¶22(3)]
  • [ ] If accepted → recount, result sheet revised, revisions announced [¶22(4)]
  • [ ] 🚨 Highest valid votes elected; NOTA does not affect the result [¶22(4)], [¶26]
  • [ ] Tie → immediate lottery + record of proceedings + signatures + separate envelope + videography [¶26]
  • [ ] Result sheet completed and signed — 🚫 thereafter no recount demand accepted [¶22(6)]
  • [ ] Form-22 declaration · Form-23 certificate + receipt with signature [¶26–27]
  • [ ] All four documents carry RO's signature, name/date/place below it, and a clear seal [¶28]

Checklist 6 — RO: after counting

Machines [¶29] - [ ] 🚨 ECIL MPSV/MPMV CU NOT sealed — only SDMM/DMM sealed (per letters 705 / 826) - [ ] Other CUs: battery removed → Candidate Section cover re-sealed - [ ] Result Section outer cover closed and re-sealed - [ ] CU into carrying box → box re-sealed - [ ] Address tag firmly on the handle: municipality · ward number · polling station · CU serial number · date of poll · date of counting - [ ] Candidates/agents permitted to affix their seals - [ ] CUs and BUs into specially prepared large boxes

Papers [¶30] - [ ] Items (iii) used postal ballots and (viii) declarations/attestations → packets made during counting, sealed immediately after counting ends - [ ] Items (i) voter registers (14-क), (v) tendered ballots, (vii) marked rolls → sealed on receipt, into the iron chest - [ ] Candidates told to affix their seals — in their own interest - [ ] Responsible officer-in-charge appointed to supervise sealing - [ ] Two locks per chest; each lock sealed

Proceedings [¶31] - [ ] Full particulars of candidates/agents present - [ ] The fact that they were asked to affix seals - [ ] Who affixed and who refused - [ ] RO's signature + those present and willing → sealed in an envelope, kept with the paper packets

Custody [¶32] - [ ] 🚨 Immediately after declaration, same day → treasury/sub-treasury or DEO-designated place, two locks - [ ] One key treasury officer; other RO / nominated senior officer - [ ] Armed guard stays until machines and records are despatched; same party during transport; noted in the log book - [ ] 🚨 Oath administered to elected members the same day (for the chairperson election) [closing note]

Checklist 7 — “Never forget” (eight fatal lapses)

# Lapse Why it is fatal
1 Not matching the paper seal serial (14-ग Part-I item 9) The only basis for detecting tampering [¶16]

✏️ "the sole basis" — narrow this slightly (checked 22.08.2026)

Calling the paper-seal serial match "the sole basis for detecting tampering" is not quite right — two independent checks exist at the counting table:

Check What it catches Basis
🚨 paper-seal serial match whether the result section was opened Form 14-C Part-I item 9
✅ CU unique-number match whether the machine was swapped order 2184 ¶13(v)

Order 2184, point 13(v) (I read the page image myself):

"During the counting, the list of Control Units allotted ward-wise and polling-station-wise shall be displayed on the notice board in the counting hall."

➡ So that list hangs in front of the agents at the table — they can match the CU number themselves.

✅ Fix — narrow the sentence: "The paper-seal match is the sole basis for detecting whether the result section has been opened. Whether the machine itself was swapped is checked separately, against the CU's unique number."

🚨 Have both checks made — seal intact but a different machine, or the right machine with a broken seal: either is serious.

| 2 | Proceeding when Part-II total ≠ Part-I item 5 | The count is defective [¶20(1)] | | 3 | Omitting NOTA or adding it to a candidate | Form-21 becomes wrong [¶18(1)(v)] | | 4 | Striking the grand total before the re-poll result is included | Expressly prohibited [¶21(2)] | | 5 | Opening a postal envelope received after the fixed time | It was never to be opened [¶11(2)] | | 6 | Opening Envelope-A before scrutinising the 16-क declaration | Sequence reversed [SO 157 ¶2–5] | | 7 | Accepting a recount after signing the result sheet | The right has ended [¶22(6)] | | 8 | Sealing the CU of an ECIL MPSV/MPMV | The CU is not sealed — only SDMM/DMM [¶29(1)] |

Checklist 8 — What is not in this module

(see GAPS — do not fill these in by assumption)

  • [ ] Text of the Rules 1994 / Act 2009 (§1)
  • [ ] ⚠️ Postal ballot packets — two documents conflict; rule adopted: the later document prevails (one packet) — a departmental decision, not an SEC ruling; confirmation still pending (§2)
  • [ ] ~~Printed formats of Forms 14-ग, 16-क/ख/ग, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (§3)~~ 🔴 This line was wrong — corrected 22.08.2026. Six of these forms are held in this very project as page images: training/forms/MG_annex_pdf100_printed096.jpg — Form 14-ग Part 1 (I opened it myself) · …pdf101_printed097.png — 14-ग Part 2 · …pdf105_printed101.png — 16-क · …pdf106_printed102.png — 16-ख / 16-ग · …pdf117_printed113.png and …pdf118_printed114.png — the worked specimen at Appendix-8 · Form21_22_23_from_SO155_p002/3/4.png — Forms 21 / 22 / 23 (order 1374 dt 04.02.2026, S.O. 155/2026)
  • [ ] ❌ Genuinely still unheld — only Form 19 (appointment of counting agent) and Form 20 (revocation)
  • [ ] ~~SDMM/DMM sealing method — letters 705 and 826 (§4)~~ 🔴 Also wrong. Both letters are printed in full in the Compendium and have been read — see SDMM / DMM Sealing After Counting — the procedure (705 — printed pp. 214–221 · 826 — pp. 222–229)
  • [ ] ~~Chairperson / vice-chairperson counting (§5)~~ 🔴 Now built — Chairperson/en (rules 78 to 97, both languages)
  • [ ] SDMM/DMM sealing method — letters 705 and 826 (§4)
  • [ ] Chairperson / vice-chairperson counting (§5)
  • [x] ~~Issue of preventive-detention postal ballots — order 1418 not read (§6)~~ 🔴 Corrected 23.08.2026 — order 1418 has been read in full (items 1–13 + Annexures 1–4) → RO/ARO handbook §9.4-A and §9.4-B. It supersedes order 4200.
  • [x] ~~Form of the postal ballot — order 572 (SO 147/2026) not read (§6)~~ 🔴 This too has been read (23.08.2026) — items 1–15 + Annexures 1–2. 🚨 Two points for counting: the member's postal ballot is on WHITE paper [item 10] · the counterfoil carries the voter's signature / thumb impression [item 2(f)] → BALLOT_PRINTING §B.5-क
  • [x] ~~Sending result documents to the Commission — order 1374 (SO 155/2026) not read (§6)~~ 🔴 This was also wrong — corrected 22.08.2026. Order 1374 HAS been read — the Compendium, order (66), printed p. 273. Its four documents and the three-day deadline → the Appendix to the RO/ARO handbook. It supersedes order 4228.