Presiding Officer — EVM Handbook

Rajasthan ULB General Election 2026 · Model: ECIL MPSV (CU 7514R / BU 7409R)

Every instruction here is sourced. The tag in brackets — e.g. [2184 ¶9(xxi)] or [MPSV Ch.5] — identifies the official document it comes from. See SOURCES.

Anything not found in an official document is not written here. Those items are listed in GAPS. Never improvise a missing procedure — obtain it in writing from the Commission or the District Election Officer.

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

0. First — three things that are different in this election

(a) EVMs are being used for the MEMBER (ward) post only. [SO 145, operative part; 2184 ¶9(xxi)]

(b) The END button will be MASKED. Because MPSV/MPMV machines are being used to elect only the member post, there is no possibility of partial voting, and therefore the “END” button on MPSV/MPMV machines shall be masked [2184 ¶9(xxi)].

⚠️ Note: The general ECIL manual [MPSV Ch.4] says the last Ballot Unit's END button must be left un-masked. That does not apply in this election — the Commission's instruction [2184 ¶9(xxi)] prevails. Consequently UNDER VOTE and UNFINISHED VOTERS will not normally arise.

(c) The “Pink Paper Seal” is applied on three different occasions. Do not confuse them:

When	Where	Applied by	Source
First Level Checking (FLC)	Control Unit, on the portion between the Candidate Set Section and the Result Section	ECIL/BEL engineer	[2184 ¶5(xiv)]
Commissioning	Ballot Unit, on its lowest part (so no candidate's name or symbol is covered)	ECIL/BEL engineer	[2184 ¶9(xvi)]
Poll day, after mock poll	Control Unit, on the door of the inner compartment of the Result Section	Presiding Officer	[MPSV Ch.5]

Yours is the third. The first two will already be in place — your duty is to keep them intact [2184 ¶9(xv)].

1. On receiving the machine

Give your receipt signature [2184 ¶11(ii)].
Check the machine number — it must match the sticker pasted at the back of the machine and the entries on the address tag [2184 ¶11(iii)].
Confirm that all seals on the machine are secure [2184 ¶11(ii)].
Only white stickers / address tags are used on CU and BU [2184 ¶9(xix)]. The ballot paper on the BU for the ward member election is white [2184 ¶9(xx)].

2. Pre-poll preparation at the polling station

All of this is done in the presence of candidates and/or their polling agents [MPSV Ch.5].

2.1 Check the Ballot Unit

The BU is already fully prepared at the Returning Officer's level. You only verify [MPSV Ch.5]:

(a) the ballot paper is properly fixed under the ballot paper screen;
(b) both seals affixed by the RO on the right-hand side, top and bottom, are in correct position.

2.2 Check the Control Unit and connect

Verify that the RO's seal on the left of the Candidate Section is in correct position [MPSV Ch.5].
Open the rear compartment of the CU; plug the BU male connector into the CU female connector. If more than one BU, the second BU's cable connects to the connector at the back of the first BU [MPSV Ch.5].
Open the Result Section cover by pressing its left latches slightly inward. Then open the inner compartment door (above the RESULT I and RESULT II buttons) by inserting thumb and one finger through the two holes and pressing slightly inward [MPSV Ch.5].

⚠️ Do not force the inner compartment door open [MPSV Ch.5].
Switch the power ON — a beep sounds and the green ON lamp lights on the display section. Then close the rear compartment [MPSV Ch.5].

2.3 `CLEAR` — proving zero

Press CLEAR. The operation takes about 25 seconds with a beep [MPSV Ch.5].

Display sequence (example): DELETING POLLED VOTES → CANDS 8 / SEATS 1 → NUMBER OF POSTS → CANDIDATE-1 VOTES-0, CANDIDATE-2 VOTES-0 … (to the last candidate and last post) → TOTAL VOTERS 0 → POLLED VOTES 0 → UNDER VOTES 0 → UNFINISHED VOTERS 0 → END [MPSV Ch.5].

Purpose: to show the polling agents that no votes are already recorded in the machine [MPSV Ch.5].
If Invalid operation appears instead, complete the CRC (Close → Result-1 → Clear) sequence again [MPSV Ch.5].
Note: CLEAR works only when BU-1 is connected to the CU and the SDMM is fitted inside the CU [MPSV Ch.3].

3. Mock poll

Step	Action	What happens
1	Press `BALLOT`	Red `Busy` lamp on CU; green lamp on BU
2	Ask a polling agent to vote	The arrow lamp against that candidate glows red
3	Vote completes	BU `Ready` green, candidate's red lamp and beep switch off together; a few seconds later the CU `Busy` red lamp goes off
4	Repeat with other agents	Keep a manual tally of votes recorded for each candidate
5	Press `TOTAL`	Verify machine count against your manual tally

⚠️ Press TOTAL only when the Busy lamp is OFF, i.e. when the system is idle [MPSV Ch.5].

🚨 Mandatory rule — Margdarsika 2026: "It is compulsory to conduct the mock poll with a minimum of one vote each for every candidate, INCLUDING NOTA." [MG Ch.4 (printed p 20) — MPSV; and MG Ch.4-A (printed p 32) — M3A/MK-5]

Depending on time available there is no objection to recording more or fewer mock voters, and it is not necessary that each candidate receive the same number of votes — but every candidate and NOTA must receive at least one.

(The ECIL manual 2019 [MPSV Ch.5] said only that equal votes were unnecessary; the compulsory one-vote-each minimum comes from the Margdarsika 2026 and that is what applies.)

Mock poll record and certificate [MG Ch.4-A(4),(7),(13)]: - Issue a slip to each mock-poll participant (candidate's agent / polling party member) to cast a vote; the Presiding Officer collects the slip, then permits the mock voter to vote - Prepare a separate paper record of which mock voter voted for which candidate — as per Annexure-19 - The Presiding Officer shall prepare the mock poll certificate in the format at Annexure-19, attach it to Annexure-6, and record the mock poll details and the certificate issued at item no. 30 of the Presiding Officer's diary

3.1 Close the mock poll and see the result

Press CLOSE → CLOSING → NUMBER OF POSTS → DTE … / TME … → TOTAL VOTERS … → RJSCU…… / RJSDM…… → POLL CLOSED [MPSV Ch.5].
Press RESULT-I → COMPUTING RESULT → serial numbers of CU and SDMM → POLL RESULT → PDT (poll date) → PST / PET (poll start / end time) → number of posts → TOTAL VOTERS → POLLED VOTES → UNDER VOTES → votes per candidate → UNFINISHED VOTERS → serial number of the POLL DAY CU → END [MPSV Ch.3, Ch.5].
Match the displayed result against your manual mock-poll record [MPSV Ch.5].

How to read the two serial numbers: the serial number shown at the start of the result belongs to the current CU; the one shown just before END belongs to the CU used on poll day. If the result is being read on the same CU, the two must be identical [MPSV Ch.3].

3.2 Erase the mock poll data — the single most important step

Press CLEAR. This sets the total number of voters stored in the SDMM, and the votes recorded for each candidate of each post, to 0 [MPSV Ch.5].

🚨 WARNING: Do not forget to CLEAR the mock poll votes. [MPSV Ch.5]

After END appears in the clear sequence, switch the Control Unit OFF [MPSV Ch.5].

🚨 WARNING: Do not forget to switch the CU OFF before sealing the Result Section. [MPSV Ch.5]

4. Sealing after the mock poll

4.1 Pink Paper Seal — inner compartment of the Result Section

The Pink Paper Seal is printed on special security paper and is serially numbered [MPSV Ch.5].

Fix the seal in the designated place in the frame on the inside of the inner compartment door of the Result Section. A thin cardboard padding is provided to hold it firmly.
Fix it so that the white surface faces the back and the pink surface is visible through the hole from outside.
On the white surface projecting outward, the Presiding Officer shall sign in full below the seal's serial number.
Obtain the signatures of candidates / polling agents who are present and willing.
Note the serial number of the paper seal used, and have the candidates/agents present note it too.
Pass twine through the two holes on the left of the inner door and tie a knot; pass the loose ends through the hole in the special tag and tie a knot; seal the knot on the special tag with the Presiding Officer's seal.
Adjust the special tag near the CLOSE button so that the CLOSE button remains easily available for operation.

(All of the above — [MPSV Ch.5])

4.2 Result Section outer cover

Press the outer cover of the Result Section; seal it by passing thread through the two holes on its left, and attach the special tag with the Presiding Officer's seal [MPSV Ch.5].

4.3 ABCD strip seal

Fold the projecting lower end of the pink paper seal double, keeping the pink colour on top, then seal using the self-adhesive long ABCD paper strip [MPSV Ch.5]:

Step	Action
1	Place the long seal strip with pre-gummed part ‘A’ at the base of the lower fold of the pink paper seal
2	After sticking ‘A’, remove the wax paper from ‘B’; fold the ABCD strip to the left and invert it; place ‘B’ on the folded pink seal so that ‘C’ is on top
3	Remove wax paper from ‘C’; place the serial-number end of the pink seal (the topmost end) and glue it to part ‘C’
4	Wrap the long seal strip around the CU
5	Apply the strip around the outer compartment; remove wax paper from ‘D’ and glue it on the serial-number portion so the serial number is clearly visible; the strip must cross the boundary of the outer compartment (near the door)

⚠️ While sealing: the direct candle flame must not come into contact with the CU / BU / carrying case, and molten wax must not fall on any part of the machine [MPSV Ch.4, Ch.5].

5. Actual poll

Place the Ballot Unit in the voting compartment — at sufficient distance from the Presiding Officer's table where the Control Unit is kept and operated. The interconnecting cable is 5 metres long, so position the compartment accordingly [MPSV Ch.5].

Route the cable so that it does not obstruct voters' movement and they do not have to walk on it. The cable may be tied to the table leg on both the CU and BU sides [MPSV Ch.5].
Switch the Control Unit ON [MPSV Ch.5].
Press TOTAL and confirm that Total Voters displays ZERO. Start the poll at the appointed time [MPSV Ch.5, Ch.7].
For each voter: - After identification of the voter, application of indelible ink on the forefront of the left index finger, and obtaining signature and thumb impression in the voter register, press the BALLOT button [MPSV Ch.5, Ch.7]. - On pressing BALLOT, the CU Busy lamp turns red and the BU Ready lamp turns green — the signal that the voter may cast the vote [MPSV Ch.5]. - When the vote is complete, Busy, the candidate's lamp, Ready and the beep switch off; the machine is ready for the next vote.

⚠️ WARNING: After the first or second voter has finished, verify by pressing Total [MPSV Ch.5].

Three rules of discipline [MPSV Ch.5]: - Only one voter inside the voting compartment at a time. - The voter must enter in the same order in which their name appears in the voter register. - Press BALLOT only after the previous voter has completed voting and left the compartment.
TOTAL may be pressed at any time to see how many have voted — only when Busy is off. At the end, reconcile the number in the voter register with the total in the Control Unit [MPSV Ch.5].

Keep reconciling at intervals during the poll as well [MPSV Ch.7(ii)4].

⚠️ During the poll: do not open the CLOSE button cap unnecessarily; do not switch the CU off while the beep is sounding [MPSV Ch.5, Ch.7].

5.1 If a voter is unable to vote due to a machine problem

Follow this sequence [MPSV Ch.7(ii)]:

Create a LINK ERROR by removing the BU cable connected to the CU.
Switch the CU off.
Reconnect the BU cable to the CU.
Switch the CU on.
After all messages have finished displaying, press BALLOT.
The voter can now vote again.

6. Close of poll and sealing

Legal basis: Rule 47-क(2) of the Rajasthan Municipalities (Election) Rules, 1994 — after the close of poll the Presiding Officer shall seal the Control Unit and Ballot Unit used for the member posts and secure them separately, in such manner that the units cannot be opened without breaking the seals [SO 145, operative part].

After all voters standing in the queue at the appointed closing time have voted [MPSV Ch.5]:

Step	Action	Source
1	Remove the cap of the `CLOSE` button, press `CLOSE`, and replace the cap	[SO 145 ¶1]
2	Note the total number of voters shown on the display in the prescribed form	[MPSV Ch.5]
3	Press `TOTAL` and note the total number of voters after close of poll	[MPSV Ch.7(iii)]
4	Switch the Control Unit power switch OFF	[SO 145 ¶2], [MPSV Ch.5]
5	Open the CU rear compartment; press both latches of the interface cable and disconnect the BU from the CU; close the compartment	[SO 145 ¶2], [MPSV Ch.5]
6	Put the Ballot Unit(s) and Control Unit back into their carrying boxes	[SO 145 ¶3]
7	Pass thread through the holes on both sides of the carrying boxes and seal them; the Presiding Officer shall affix their seal on the address tag showing the particulars of the election and the polling station, and seal it with lac (चपड़ी)	[SO 145 ¶4]

6.1 What goes on the address tag

On the Control Unit address tag [SO 145 ¶5]: name of the municipality · ward member number · identification number of the Control Unit · name and number of the polling station · date of poll.

On the Ballot Unit(s) address tag [SO 145 ¶6]: name of the municipality · particulars of the election · ward number · identification number of the Ballot Unit(s) · name and number of the polling station · date of poll.

6.2 Signatures

Candidates or their polling agents who are present and willing to sign shall be permitted to sign on the address tags [SO 145 ¶7].

6.3 After sealing

The EVM is now ready to be moved from the polling station to the strong room [MPSV Ch.5].

Since counting is to be held at municipality headquarters, after the poll the voting machine is kept in safe custody at the counting venue at municipality headquarters; the strong room is kept sealed by the Returning Officer [2184 ¶13(i)].

7. Error messages and solutions

(Source: [MPSV Ch.7])

#	Error / symptom	Reason	Solution
1	`ON` lamp does not glow on switching on	Battery pack not fitted properly or low voltage	Fit the battery pack properly or replace with a new one
2	No beep and no display on switching on	Control Unit defective, not fit for use	Use another Control Unit and report to ECIL
3	`INVALID OPERATION` + short interrupted beep	Button pressed out of proper sequence	Press buttons in proper sequence (see sub-cases)
3(i)	— on pressing `Cand. Set`	Data in EVM not cleared	Clear the EVM first
3(ii)	— on pressing `CLEAR`	Result of previous poll not yet seen	Press `RESULT-I` first, then `CLEAR`
3(iii)	— on pressing `BALLOT`	Machine is in poll-closed / result state	Effective only after previous result is seen and data cleared
3(iv)	— on pressing `RESULT-I`	Poll not closed by pressing `CLOSE`	Press `CLOSE` first
4	`TOTAL` gives no response	`Busy` lamp is ON	Let the voter record the vote; `Busy` goes off after the vote is recorded
5	On `BALLOT`, no `Busy`; `LINK ERROR-1` + interrupted beep	Interconnecting cable not properly fitted or slide switch in wrong position	Refit the cable, or remove and refit it, or correct the slide switch position. Correct the Ballot Unit whose position the display indicates
6	On `BALLOT`, no `Busy`; `PRESSED ERROR` + interrupted beep	Some button on a BU was already pressed or jammed before `BALLOT` was pressed	Go inside the voting compartment and press all buttons once, gently; the jammed button returns to its original position. Then press `BALLOT` and continue. Correct the BU indicated on the display
7	`INOPERATIVE`	EVM not fit to work	Report to the concerned officers / State Election Commission / ECIL
8	`SECURITY NOT CONFIGURED` on power on	EVM needs to be prepared	CU disabled; report to concerned officers / SEC / ECIL
9	`BU NOT CONFIGURED` on power on	EVM needs to be prepared	BU inoperative; report to concerned officers / SEC / ECIL
10	`READY` lamp on BU blinking continuously	BU in inoperative state	Report to concerned officers / SEC / ECIL
11	`SDMM NOT RESPONDING`	SDMM connection loose or SDMM not fitted	Switch the CU off, refit (or fit) the SDMM properly, then switch the CU on
12	`CLOCK ERROR` (on power on / `TOTAL` / `RESULT-I`)	Defect in the Real Time Clock	Before the poll begins → replace the Control Unit and report to ECIL. During the poll → the poll may continue, as there is no effect on functionality or on polling data
13	`PREV-BALLOT INCOMPLETE` (`Busy` already glowing)	Indicates the previous vote is incomplete	The Presiding Officer must ensure the previous ballot operation is completed

8. Do's and Don'ts