Master Trainer Slide Deck — Counting

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

How to use: --- separates slides. Speaker notes in italics — do not project them. Duration: ≈ 120 minutes including hands-on practice.

🚨 Rule for the trainer: if a point is not on the slide with a source, do not say it. If asked, open GAPS, show it, and say "this will be obtained from the Commission in writing."

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

Slide 1 — Title

Counting Training

ULB General Election 2026 · Member (ward) posts

State Election Commission, Rajasthan

Poll: 09 and 11 September 2026 · Counting: 14 September 2026 (Monday)

Speaker note: counting must be completed the same day, and the oath administered to elected members the same day — because the chairperson election process starts from 15.09.

Slide 2 — Today's session

Legal basis and two fundamentals
Venue, tables, staff
Counting agents — appointment, badges, discipline
Postal ballots — first
EVM counting — step by step
Form 14-ग → Form-21 → declaration
Recount · postponement · special situations
After counting: sealing and custody
Hands-on practice and assessment

Slide 3 — Legal basis

Provision	Subject
Rules 57–61, 65–73	Time/place · counting agents · entry · secrecy · recount · declaration · certificate
Rules 46-क, 62-क, 63-ख, 64-क	EVM counting; postal ballots
Rules 62-क, 63-क, 63-ख	Scrutiny & inspection before counting · actual counting · sealing after counting

This circular (2292 dated 09.03.2026) supersedes order 4249 dated 22.10.2019.

Speaker note: we do not hold the text of the Rules — rule numbers are quoted from the circular. GAPS §1.

Slide 4 — Two fundamentals

1️⃣ Counting is polling-station-wise (booth-wise)

"Counting must be error-free and leave no confusion in the mind of a candidate or their agent" [¶1(2)]

2️⃣ Counting must be completed the same day

After declaration, administer the oath to elected members the same day — so they can take part in the election of the Mayor / Sabhapati / Adhyaksh [closing note]

Slide 5 — Venue `[¶3]`

Counting at municipality headquarters · in one building (DEO may select two in a Corporation)
One ward counted together in one room
Partitioned hall for more than one ward → each room needs a separate ARO in charge
Notice: at least one week before the date of poll, in writing; if changed, fresh written notice
🚫 Not in a temporary structure · double and adequate security · no crowding

Slide 6 — Staff `[¶5]`

One table = one counting supervisor + one counting assistant (Rule 59, with DEO's approval)


Counting supervisor	Gazetted or equivalent officer
Counting assistant	As far as possible at Supervisory Post level

🚫 No one connected with a political party or candidate; no urban body office staff ✅ Thorough training including reserve staff ✅ Separate assistants appointed for sealing EVM/SDMM/DMM and papers

Slide 7 — Counting agents `[¶6]`, `[SO 151]`

When	What
2 days before	Photo list + Form-19 (in duplicate, passport photo affixed)
	Photo signed by the agent + certified by the candidate
1 hour before	Read and sign the Form-19 declaration → else no entry
Counting day	🚨 Only holders of photo identity cards/badges admitted

Number: not more than the number of tables — including the RO/ARO's table Revocation: Form-20 · another agent may then be appointed in that place

Slide 8 — Discipline and entry `[¶8, ¶9, ¶10]`

Entry — only 4 categories (Rule 60(1)) (a) counting supervisors/assistants · (b) persons authorised by the Commission · (c) public servants on duty · (d) candidates, election agents, one counting agent per table

🚫 Smoking totally prohibited
🚫 Ministers — no entry unless a candidate
Police normally not in the room (RO may call them for law and order)
🚫 No re-entry once someone leaves
Counting agent only at the allotted table; candidate and election agent may go to any table
Section 128 (RP Act 1951) explained to everyone before counting begins — Rule 61 secrecy

Slide 9 — 🚨 Postal ballots first `[¶11]`

Postal ballots → first, in the same room

🚫 Postal counting must finish before EVM counting finishes

Envelope received after the fixed time → rejected unopened → kept separately, sealed, particulars written

Two kinds: (a) Persons under preventive detention — proviso to Section 25, Act 2009 (b) Election-duty staff — Rule 46-क(4)

Slide 10 — Postal ballots: order of scrutiny `[SO 157]`

Open Envelope-B (16-ग) one by one
        ▼
FIRST scrutinise the declaration in Form 16-क                   [¶2]
        │
        ├─ absent / not duly signed & attested
        │  / serial number differs from Envelope-A
        │        → 🚫 do NOT open Envelope-A → ballot REJECTED   [¶3]
        │        → back into Envelope-B → one separate large packet, sealed [¶4]
        ▼
Correct declarations → separate packet, sealed                  [¶5]
        ▼
ONLY THEN open Envelope-A (16-ख) → scrutinise each ballot       [¶6]

Speaker note: reversing this order is the commonest error — the declaration is scrutinised first, Envelope-A afterwards.

Slide 11 — Postal ballots: 7 grounds of rejection `[SO 157 ¶7]`

	Ground
a	Mark or writing identifying the elector
b	No vote, or vote on the back of the ballot
c	More than one candidate, or candidate + NOTA
d	Spurious ballot paper
e	Damaged/mutilated — identity not establishable
f	Not returned in the envelope sent
g	Mark makes it doubtful to whom the vote was given

🚨 No rejection on any other ground. The RO's decision is final. Mark "rejected" on each + endorse the reason

Slide 12 — Postal ballots: two Explanations `[SO 157]`

Explanation I — Marking "X" (cross) or "✓" (right tick) with a ballpen or ink is sufficient. Not rejected merely because the mark was made otherwise than with the prescribed instrument.

Explanation II — The mark is indistinct or made more than once — still not rejected, if the intention that the vote is for a particular candidate or NOTA clearly appears from the way the ballot is marked.

Inspection: before rejection, give the candidate/election agent a reasonable opportunity to inspect — 🚫 but do not let them touch it [¶8]

Slide 12a — Postal ballot packets: the rule adopted

The two documents conflict on the number of packets: [SO 157 ¶11] (statutory order, 06.02.2026) = separate packets · [2292 ¶11(5)] (circular, 09.03.2026) = one packet

✅ Rule adopted: the later document prevails

Bundles separate — both bundles in ONE sealed packet

Practical safeguard: tie and label the valid and rejected bundles separately, then place both in the single packet — this follows 2292 to the letter and preserves the separation SO 157 intended.

Speaker note: say plainly that this is a departmental working decision, NOT an SEC ruling. SO 157 is a statutory order while 2292 is a circular, and 2292 supersedes only order 4249 — not SO 157. Written confirmation from the Commission is still worth having. GAPS §2.

✅ 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.

Slide 13 — EVM counting: distribution to tables `[¶12]`

CUs distributed in polling-station serial order — station 1 → table 1, station 2 → table 2 …
Record kept by the RO + chart displayed on the room's board
The Form 14-ग of that same station comes to the table with the CU

Ballot Unit: normally not required — only on a candidate's/agent's demand for inspection

🚨 Exception — BEL post MK-V / M3A: the BU must be connected to the CU to obtain the result [¶12(2), ¶18(4)] MPSV / MPMV: only the CU is needed [¶19]

Slide 14 — EVM counting: checking the seals `[¶13–15]`

Box → check the Presiding Officer's seal

Even if the box seal is not intact, no possibility of tampering — provided the unit's seals, especially the strip seal and the pink paper seal, are intact

CU → serial number the same machine? · Candidate Set Section seal the same?

Even if one of these is damaged — provided the pink paper seal on the inner cover of the Result Section is intact

✅ Let candidates/agents inspect the seals and satisfy themselves

Slide 15 — 🚨 Matching the paper seal `[¶16]`

Paper seal serial ↔ Form 14-ग Part-I, item no. 9 (paper seal account)

There are two paper seals in the inner cover
Let candidates/agents match it too

If it does not match? → the counting supervisor must not decide — inform the RO/ARO → the RO examines: serial numbers of unused paper seals returned · complaints at the polling station · other relevant circumstances → if it is a clerical mistake, ignore the discrepancy

Speaker note: this is the single most important slide in the training. It is the only basis for detecting tampering.

Slide 16 — Taking the result `[¶18]`

Step	Action
(i)	Power switch ON in the rear compartment → green light
(ii)	Remove the paper seal over the result button below the upper hole of the inner cover
(iii)	Press `Result-1`
(iv)	Votes for each candidate and NOTA display automatically, one by one
(v)	Note in Form 14-ग Part-II, candidate-wise + NOTA in its prescribed column

Press Result-1 again if needed
After noting, close the cover and switch the CU OFF

Slide 17 — 🚨 Reconciling Form 14-ग Part-II `[¶20]`

Part-II total = Part-I item 5 total

Order of signatures:

Counting supervisor → candidates/agents present → RO/ARO (after satisfying themselves)
                                                  → officer preparing Form-21

Speaker note: if this does not reconcile, do not proceed. This is the point at which the accuracy of the count is settled.

Slide 18 — Form-21: the final result sheet `[¶21]`

Form-21 = machine candidate-wise votes (including NOTA)

+ valid postal votes candidate-wise (including NOTA)

🚫 Do not strike the grand total before the re-poll result is included
🚨 Verify the grand total — any difference materially affects the result and the declaration; it will be taken seriously by the Commission and will be cause for strict disciplinary action**

Slide 19 — Recount `[¶22]`

Form-21 ready → declare total votes of each candidate and NOTA
      → pause proceedings 1–2 minutes
      → demand? → how long for a written application? → if reasonable, permit + announce
      → consider the grounds → decision (final) → 🚨 record reasons briefly
      → accepted → recount (postal too, if you so decide) → revise result sheet + announce

🚨 Not on mere asking — the party must prove that prima facie the particulars of votes are not correct and that a recount is necessary in the interest of justice [¶22(5)]

🚨 After the result sheet is completed and signed — no demand is accepted [¶22(6)]

Slide 20 — 🚨 NOTA and the result

The result is not affected by votes received by NOTA

The candidate receiving the highest number of votes is declared elected

[2292 ¶22(4)] · [¶26]

Speaker note: this question comes up every time. The answer is explicit and written in the circular — NOTA does not trigger a re-poll. Tell candidates and agents the same.

Slide 21 — Tie → lottery `[¶26]`

If there is a tie and the addition of just one vote would entitle one of them to be declared elected:

The RO draws a lottery immediately, in the presence of the candidates/election agents
A record of proceedings is prepared; signatures of those present (if they sign)
The record goes in a separate envelope, with other papers, into safe custody
Appropriate entries in Form-21 and Form-22
🚨 The entire proceedings are videographed

Slide 22 — Four documents after the result `[¶26–28]`

#	Document
1	Form-21 — final result sheet
2	Form-22 — declaration of result
3	Form-23 — certificate of election
4	Receipt of Form-23, certified by the RO

All carry the RO's signature, with name · date · place below it, and the RO's seal clearly affixed On giving the certificate, take a receipt with the candidate's due signature; send the receipt and documents to the Commission

Slide 23 — Special situations

Tampering found [¶17] → set the machine aside · do not count it · report to the Commission · 🚨 it is not necessary to postpone the entire counting

Postponement of counting [¶23] → seal everything · candidates may affix their seals · separate room sealed with your seal and theirs · alternatively candidates may put their own locks

Machine destroyed / damaged / booth capturing etc. (6 situations) [¶24] → Rule 55 — report the facts to the Commission immediately · await the Commission's directions

Counting after a re-poll [¶25] → fix date/time/place · written intimation · same procedure

Slide 24 — 🚨 After counting: sealing the machines `[¶29]`

ECIL MPSV / MPMV — the CU is NOT sealed

Only the SDMM and DMM are sealed

(SDMM → letter 705 dated 20.01.2026 · DMM → letter 826 dated 23.01.2026) After sealing, the machine can be re-used with a new SDMM/DMM

Re-sealing other CUs: remove the battery → re-seal the Candidate Section cover → close and re-seal the Result Section outer cover → into the carrying box → re-seal the box → address tag

Removing the battery is necessary (so it does not swell and damage the machine); removing it does not erase the result — the CU retains its memory

Speaker note: we do not have letters 705 and 826 — get the sealing method from the Commission. GAPS §4.

Slide 25 — Address tag: poll day vs counting day

Poll day (CU) `[SO 145 ¶5]`	After counting (CU) `[2292 ¶29(2)(v)]`
Name of municipality	Name of municipality
Ward member number	Ward number
CU identification number	CU serial number
Name and number of polling station	Particulars of the polling station
Date of poll	Date of poll
—	🆕 Date of counting

Speaker note: the only difference is the date of counting — and that is exactly what gets missed.

Slide 26 — Papers and custody `[¶30–32]`

Rule 74-क — packets shall not be opened, inspected or produced without an order of a competent court

Sealed when	Packets
Made during counting, sealed with RO's seal immediately after counting ends	(iii) used postal ballots · (viii) declarations and attestations
Sealed on receipt, into the iron chest	(i) voter registers (14-क) · (v) tendered ballots · (vii) marked electoral rolls

Two locks per iron chest; each lock sealed
A responsible officer-in-charge supervises the sealing
🚨 Immediately after declaration, the same day → treasury/sub-treasury, under two locks (one key with the treasury officer, the other with the RO or a nominated senior officer)
Armed guard stays deployed until despatch; noted in the log book

Slide 27 — Hands-on practice (45 minutes)

Every participant does this themselves:

Carrying box → seal check → CU → inspect strip / special tag / pink seals
Match paper seal serial ↔ Form 14-ग Part-I item 9 (include a non-matching case)
Result-1 → read candidate-wise + NOTA
Fill Form 14-ग Part-II → reconcile with Part-I item 5 → signatures
Postal ballots: correct sequence 16-ग → 16-क scrutiny → 16-ख; rejection on the 7 grounds; cases under Explanations I and II
Form-21 addition (machine + postal, including NOTA)
After counting: re-seal the CU + fill the address tag

Slide 27-A — 🚨 Before you may commence counting: the SEC's clearance [rule 55(3)]

Rule 55(3) (Manual printed p.97) "Where a report has been sent to the State Election Commission under sub-rule (1), the returning officer shall not commence counting of votes till he gets a clearance to do so from the State Election Commission."

	Note
Scope	"counting of votes" — 🚨 not confined to one polling station
Nature	"clearance" — 🚨 an affirmative permission, not merely "waiting"

The four rule 55(1) triggers: machine unlawfully removed from custody / destroyed / damaged · mechanical failure during recording or counting · procedure vitiated · booth capturing

Speaker note: the chairperson (21.09) and vice-chairperson (22.09) counts open immediately after the poll, so a 55(1) report can still be pending with the SEC when counting would otherwise start.

Slide 27-B — 🚨 If the poll was adjourned — the whole ward's count stops

Rule 53(2) (Manual printed p.105) — "…shall not count the votes cast at any such election until such adjourned poll shall have been completed." — this bar operates automatically.

Order 4650 dated 04.11.2019 (Compendium printed pp. 249–250) —

"since in municipal elections the ward is the constituency … the Returning Officer shall stop the remaining counting of that ward and shall proceed further only on the Commission's directions."

🚨 One consolidated, complete report covering every polling station of the municipality
Rule 62-A(4): tampering established during counting → that machine's votes are not counted; report under rule 55

⚠️ Three "suspensions" — similar words, different meanings

	What	When
Suspension of counting [2292 ¶23]	halting a running count	during counting
Result deferred [5681]	deferring one machine's result	during counting
🚨 Adjournment of poll [rule 53]	the poll itself is adjourned	on poll day

Slide 27-C — 🚨 Postal ballots: who may attest

Class of voter	Competent officer
Staff on election duty	any gazetted officer or the Presiding Officer of the station where he is posted [rule 46-A(6)(b)]
Preventive detention	any gazetted officer or 🚨 the officer in charge of that jail [order 1418 item (10)]

🚨 For a detained voter the Presiding Officer is not an option. 🚨 The jail officer need not be gazetted.

🔎 The desk check: the designation box in Form 16-A's attestation block — blank = competence cannot be tested.

Slide 27-D — 🚨 Tendered votes are never counted · no government servant as counting agent

Rule 63-A(3) (Manual printed p.110)

"No envelope containing the tendered ballot papers shall be opened and no such votes shall be counted."

The "total tendered votes" row in Forms 21/22 is for the record only — it enters no candidate's total
If an agent demands it in a narrow ward, cite rule 63-A(3)

Section 134A (Manual PDF p.45; applied by s.28 of the Act 2009)

"If any person in the service of the Government acts as an election agent or a polling agent or a counting agent … imprisonment up to three months, or fine, or both."

⚠️ The penalty falls on the servant — the section does not void the appointment. The RO states it in the ¶6(7) notice, catches it at Form-19 scrutiny, has a replacement appointed, and reports to the DEO.

Slide 28 — Eight fatal lapses

#	Lapse
1	Not matching the paper seal serial
2	Proceeding when Part-II total ≠ Part-I item 5
3	Omitting / merging NOTA votes
4	Grand total before the re-poll result is included
5	Opening a late-received postal envelope
6	Opening Envelope-A before scrutinising 16-क
7	Accepting a recount after signing
8	Sealing the CU of an ECIL MPSV/MPMV
9	🚨 Failing to seal an M3A's whole machine (CU+BU) — carrying "the CU is never sealed" across to M3A [5446 ¶13(ii)]
10	🚨 Commencing the count while a rule 55(1) report is pending [rule 55(3)]
11	🚨 Continuing the count of a ward whose poll was adjourned [rule 53(2), order 4650]
12	Opening or counting the tendered-ballot envelope [rule 63-A(3)]
13	Accepting a Form 16-A without testing the attesting officer's competence — blank designation box
14	No spare batteries held at the counting venue [5681 Part D]

Slide 29 — What we are not teaching today

🔴 This list was corrected on 22.08.2026 — four of these are now available.

✅ Now available — previously on this "not teaching" list:

Topic	Where it now is
Printed formats of the forms	✅ page images under `training/forms/` — 14-ग (Parts 1 and 2), 16-क, 16-ख/ग, the worked Appendix-8 specimen, Forms 21/22/23. ❌ only Forms 19 and 20 remain unheld
SDMM/DMM sealing method	✅ SDMM / DMM Sealing After Counting — the procedure — letters 705 (printed pp. 214–221) and 826 (222–229), both read in full
Preventive-detention postal ballots (order 1418)	✅ read — items (10) attestation · (11) time limit · (12) rejection under rule 64-A · (13) adding to the total
Chairperson / vice-chairperson counting	✅ Chairperson module — rules 78 to 97

🔴 Corrected 23.08.2026 — Forms 19 and 20 are held too (ULB Manual, printed pp. 146–147) → §6.7. No form is now unavailable.

❌ Still not taught:

The full text of the Rules 1994 / Act 2009
~~Printed formats of Forms 19 and 20~~ 🔴 These were read on 23.08.2026 too — ULB Manual, printed pp. 146–147 → §6.7. No form now remains on slide 29.
~~Form of the postal ballot (order 572) · sending result documents to the Commission (order 1374)~~ 🔴 Both were read on 23.08.2026 — they no longer belong on slide 29. 572 → BALLOT_PRINTING §B.5-क · 1374 → the Appendix to the RO/ARO handbook
The postal-ballot packet contradiction — two documents differ; confirmation still pending

🚨 Do not answer these from assumption — say "it will be obtained from the Commission in writing."

Slide 30 — Assessment and close

Question paper — Part A (all) · Part B (counting staff) · Part C (RO/ARO) · Part D (scenario)
Suggested pass mark: 80% · compulsory repeat practice for anyone who fails

Take away with you

✅ Your role's handbook ✅ Checklists (laminated) ✅ A specimen of Form 14-ग

"Counting must be error-free and leave no confusion in anyone's mind about the result." [¶1(2)]