Poll day — the procedures beyond the EVM itself

For the Presiding Officer · Municipal General Election 2026 (Rajasthan)

⛔ Caution — the list of identity documents has changed. The Margdarsika's Annexure-16 (order 603 dated 19.01.2026) has been superseded by the Commission's order 5310 dated 30.07.2026. For the list in force, and its three conditions — issued before the announcement of the election, the original document, and valid only up to any expiry printed on it — see 10 §1.

Source: the State Election Commission's Margdarsika 2026 — chapters 6, 7, 8, 11. Reference marks [MG Ch.6] etc.; page links in CITATIONS. Images of the forms: Forms, Formats and Figures — the training image library

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§1 — Identifying the voter [MG Ch.6(1)]

1. Documentary identification is compulsory. The voter should produce the EPIC (photo identity card); failing that, one of the other photo documents specified by the Commission (🚨 order 5310 dated 30.07.2026 — Annexure-16 superseded). The First Polling Officer must himself be satisfied.
2. The unofficial identity slip (the one candidates and agents hand out): - 🚫 It must not carry any candidate's name, party name or election symbol - It is no guarantee of identity, and it relieves no polling officer of his duty - 🚨 PO-1 should read only the serial number from the slip — not the name or other particulars printed on it - He should then have the voter say his own name aloud, and other particulars if needed, so as to be sure the person carrying the slip is the voter himself - If not fully satisfied, send the person to the Presiding Officer - 🚨 If impersonation is established, the Presiding Officer should not hesitate at all to hand the elector over to the police
3. 🚨 A woman polling officer or member of staff should be appointed for identifying women electors, particularly those observing purdah.
4. Polling agents may bring a list of dead, absent or bogus voters. If anyone on that list presents himself, identify him strictly on documents; where doubt remains, leave the decision to the Presiding Officer.
5. Printing or clerical error: an inaccurate entry in the roll is not the voter's fault. 🚨 No genuine voter is to be denied his vote merely because of a printing or clerical error. The Presiding Officer should satisfy himself that the entry relates to that same person, record the reason in writing, and note the entry in ink in the marked copy for every such voter.

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§2 — Challenged vote [MG Ch.6(2)]

2.1 The condition for entertaining a challenge

• The challenge is made to the First Polling Officer, who sends the voter to the Presiding Officer.
• 🚨 Do not entertain a challenge until the challenger deposits ₹2 in cash.
• On receiving it, give a receipt in the form of Annexure-13 (challenge fee receipt).
• Explain to the person challenged the penalty for impersonation — Annexure-1, which quotes sections 172(d) and 174(f) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Read out the whole entry relating to him from the roll and ask whether he is that person.

2.2 The order of the summary inquiry 🚨

enter name and address in Form-13  →  take that person's signature
        ▼
the CHALLENGER must first show the person is not the genuine voter
        ├─ unable to offer prima facie evidence → challenge not upheld → let him vote
        └─ makes out a prima facie case
                 ▼
        now ask the VOTER for evidence in rebuttal
                 ├─ establishes his claim → allowed to vote
                 └─ fails                 → the challenge is held proved

• In the inquiry you are free to ask a neighbour or anyone else present to get at the truth.
• 🚨 Administer an oath to the challenger and to anyone giving evidence.
• Challenge upheld → debar him from voting, hand him to the police on duty, and send a complaint (Annexure-9) to the Station House Officer of the area.

2.2-A 🔴 Annexure-9 (the complaint letter to the SHO) — now read first-hand (23.08.2026)

I read the page image MG_annex_pdf119_printed115.png myself. Two things came out of it.

🔴 1. The letter cites section 171-F of the REPEALED IPC 1860

The letter's closing sentence —

"You are therefore requested to take the necessary action required under section 171-F of the Indian Penal Code, 1860."

✅ This confirms what 10 §1.0-A already recorded — and that statement is now verified by reading, not asserted.

🚨 What to do: on the letter, strike out "171-F" and write sections 172 / 174 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — the Commission's own order 5310 dt 30.07.2026 says exactly that. (The IPC 1860 stands repealed.)

🔴 2. The letter has a second endorsement block — a copy to the RO

Below the signature a separate block is printed —

"Copy forwarded to the Returning Officer of Municipality … and to …" — Signature: Presiding Officer

🚨 So the letter does not go to the SHO alone — a copy also goes to the RO, and that block carries a second, separate signature of the Presiding Officer. §2.2 above did not say this.

The fields to fill

2.3 Disposal of the challenge fee

Filing: Form-13 → envelope E-7 (sealed) · receipt book → envelope E-14 (not sealed)

2.3-A 🔴🔴 When the ₹2 is forfeited — the Margdarsika and rule 43(5) do not say the same thing (23.08.2026)

✅ The table at §2.3 above renders the Margdarsika verbatim — it is correct. This is not our error. The divergence is between the Margdarsika and the rule. I read both texts myself.

🔴 Why this matters — in the commonest case the two point opposite ways

🚨 So following the Margdarsika forfeits the money of the challenger who turned out to be RIGHT — which defeats the whole purpose of the deposit (it exists to deter frivolous challenges).

✅ Which one governs

🚨 What to do at the table

1. Apply rule 43(5)'s test — ask: "was this challenge frivolous, or not made in good faith?" If yes → forfeit. Otherwise → return.
2. Record your decision, with reasons, in column 8 of Form-13 ("Order of Presiding Officer"). If you forfeit, use the rule's own words — "frivolous / not in good faith".
3. 🔴 Ask the DEO for a written clarification — before the training. This is a question about the Commission's own printed Margdarsika; do not contradict it single-handed in a classroom — go in with a written answer.
4. ✅ Relief: it is ₹2, and in the commonest case (an honest challenge that fails) both roads reach the same place — refund. The conflict bites only at the two extremes.

ℹ️ Annexure-13's receipt book is in two parts (counterfoil + receipt), and the counterfoil carries two separate blocks — (1) "the amount is forfeited in favour of Government", signed by the PRO; (2) "received back ₹2 only under rule 43(5)", signed by the challenger. Footnote: "strike out whichever alternative does not apply."

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§3 — Blind and infirm voters [MG Ch.7]

1. If you are satisfied that by reason of blindness or infirmity the voter cannot recognise the symbol or press the button, allow a companion not below 18 years of age to go with him into the voting compartment. - 🚨 No person is to be allowed to act as companion for more than one elector on the same day - The companion must declare that he will keep the vote secret and has not been companion to any other elector — form at Annexure-12 - Record it in Form-12 (list of blind and infirm electors) - Form-12 + the declarations → envelope E-14; ⚠️ this envelope is not sealed
2. 🚨 Illiteracy alone is not enough to allow a companion. A companion is allowed only for blindness or infirmity of limb.
3. The Presiding Officer shall give such help as is needed, but the secrecy of the vote is to be maintained. On the newer models the ballot unit carries the candidates' serial numbers in Braille on the right, so a blind voter can vote himself — even so he remains entitled to a companion under the rules.
4. Signature / thumb impression: if unable to sign the register, take the left thumb impression. Indelible ink — if there is no finger at all, on the end of the left or right arm (the Margdarsika cites rule 35(3)(b) here). If there is neither finger nor thumb → the voter cannot record the vote himself, a companion is necessary; in such a case take the companion's signature/thumb impression in the register and the Presiding Officer should write a note against the entry.

⚠️ An inconsistency inside the Margdarsika: chapter 2 cites rule 35A(2)(a)/(b) for indelible ink, while chapter 7 cites rule 35(3)(b). Under rule 77-A, where an EVM is used rule 35 is displaced and 35-A applies. Get it clarified from the Commission — see GAPS.

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§4 — Tendered vote [MG Ch.8(1)]

When it arises: where someone has already voted in the genuine voter's name and left, and the genuine voter then comes — instead of recording a vote on the machine he is given a tendered ballot paper. Whether the second voter is genuine or bogus is for you to decide, with the help of the polling agents.

🚨 Deal with tendered-ballot cases yourself.

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§5 — Close of the poll [MG Ch.11(1)]

1. Close the polling station at the hour fixed under rule 25; admit no voter after that.
2. 🚨 A few minutes before the fixed hour — announce to everyone waiting inside the boundary of the station that they will be allowed to record their votes in turn, and give each of them a slip bearing your full signature and a serial number.
3. 🚨 Begin distributing the slips from the tail of the queue and work forward — only then will it effectively be ensured that nobody joins the queue after the closing hour. Instruct the police and staff accordingly.
4. Continue the poll even after the fixed hour until all such voters have voted.
5. When all have voted, formally declare the poll closed; thereafter allow nobody to vote in any circumstances.

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§6 — Closing the control unit [MG Ch.11(2)]

1. After the last voter's vote is recorded, press the Close button. The display panel will show the total number of votes recorded up to the close of the poll — 🚨 note that figure at once at item 5 of Part 1 of Form 14-C.
2. The Close button is in the compartment of the result section; after pressing it, put the plastic cap back.
3. 🚨 Once Close has been pressed the machine will accept no further vote — so be entirely certain that no elector present at the fixed hour has been left out.
4. Close will work only if the CU's Busy lamp is not on. If Busy stays on — because Ballot was pressed by mistake after the last elector, or because the elector refused to record a vote after Ballot was pressed — then:

disconnect the control unit from the balloting unit(s) ▼ switch the control unit's power switch on again ▼ the 'Busy' lamp goes out and the 'Close' button becomes operative

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§7 — Account of votes recorded (Form 14-C) [MG Ch.11(3)]

• Under rule 49-A, prepare the account in Part 1 of Form 14-C after the close of the poll.
• Ascertain the total with the Total button; press it again if necessary.

🚨 The reconciliation formula — confirmed from Annexure-8 (the filled specimen of Form 14-C)

(Annexure-8, printed p.113 — read 21.08.2026. An earlier version of this file recorded only one subtraction; the form has two separate deduction items.)

item 5 = item 2 − item 3 − item 4

Specimen figures: 807 = 815 − 5 − 3 ✔

Item	Heading (the form's own words)	Who is counted	Specimen
1	total number of electors assigned to the polling station	all voters on the roll	1020
2	total number of voters entered in the voters' register (Form 14-A)	last serial in column (1)	815
3	✏️ the form's own words: "No. of voters deciding not to record votes under rule 45A" (corrected 23.08.2026 from the blank Form 14-C — the "not permitted" language belongs to item 4) 🔴 rule 45-A itself stands deleted — a label only → 08 §1.1	🚨 "No Vote" — those who signed but did not cast a vote themselves	5
4	number of voters not permitted to vote under rule 35-A or 37-A	🚨 those you did not allow to vote — refusal of ink/signature (35-A) or breach of procedure/secrecy (37-A)	3
5	total number of votes recorded according to the machine	the Total figure	807
6	whether item 5 agrees with (item 2 − item 3 − item 4), or a discrepancy is found	Yes / details of the discrepancy	Yes, it agrees
7	number of voters issued tendered ballot papers under rule 44-A		6
8	number of tendered ballot papers — (a) received · (b) issued · (c) unused and returned	serial numbers "from … to"	0081–0100 / 0081–0086 / 0087–0100
9	account of paper seals — see below		002567–002570

Item 3, the "No Vote" item — the Margdarsika's direction 🚨

"Where a voter signs the voters' register and then, on going into the voting compartment, does not wish to cast a vote on the machine, the Presiding Officer should encourage him to cast his vote for NOTA. If even then the voter does not cast his vote, … mark that voter in the voters' register as No Vote. The Presiding Officer will enter the number of such voters at point 3 of Form 14-C." [MG Ch.1 — important box]

In both cases (items 3 and 4): an entry in the remarks column · the serial number in column (1) does not change · in the case of item 4, the Presiding Officer's full signature below the note [MG Ch.3(8)10].

7.1 The head of Form 14-C — the part that gets forgotten 🚨

… A B C … Municipal Board / Council / Corporation            Ward No. ______
Number and name of polling station ________________________
Part number of the electoral roll _______
Identification numbers of the machine used at the polling station
        Control Unit ______________   (specimen: RJSCU123456)
        Balloting Unit ____________   (specimen: RJSBU123789)

The identification numbers of BOTH units are compulsory in the head of Form 14-C. (On an MPSV the CU shows two serials — the SDMM one and the poll-day one; see 08 §8.5)

7.2 Item 9 — account of paper seals (sub-items) [Annexure-8]

Below: signatures of the polling agents (1–6) · date · place · Presiding Officer's signature · polling station number

7.3 Part 2 — the result of counting (filled on counting day) [Annexure-8]

The question printed on it: "Whether the total number of votes shown above agrees with the total number of votes shown against item 5 of Part 1, or whether any discrepancy appears between the two totals."

Signatures: the counting supervisor · the full signatures of candidates / election agents / counting agents (1–8) · the Returning Officer

🚨 For the counting module: Part 2 is filled not by the Presiding Officer but by the counting supervisor at the counting table, and the Returning Officer signs; NOTA has a row of its own.

• Legal basis of the form: rules 49-C and 63-A(2)
• Filled specimen: Annexure-8 (confirmed: [MG Ch.4-A, close of poll, point 2] — "note it in Form 14-C (Annexure 8)")
• 🚨 No separate account of the pink paper seals is needed — the account of paper seals is entered at item 9 of Part 1 of Form 14-C itself (and that same item is the basis of the tamper check on counting day — [2292 ¶16(1)])
• Two copies: one → envelope E-9; the other → with the Presiding Officer's diary in envelope E-11. These envelopes are not sealed.
• If any polling agent present asks for a copy, give it, duly certified.

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§8 — Sealing the machine, and the declaration [MG Ch.11(4)-(5)]

1. Seal the machine after the account has been prepared and copies given to the agents.
2. First disconnect the BU from the CU, then switch off the CU's power switch; place both in their respective carrying boxes.
3. Pass a thread through one of the two holes on either side of each box and seal it with an address tag bearing the Presiding Officer's seal, showing the particulars of the election, the polling station and the unit inside.
4. Allow the candidates / polling agents present who wish to do so to sign on the address tag on top of the balloting unit. The particulars on the address tags must be written clearly.
5. Declaration: immediately after the close, declare the poll closed; tell the candidates and election agents present that they may affix their seals/signatures on the address tags of the boxes and on the papers being sealed. Take such agents' signatures in Part 3 of Annexure-6 and note their names in the declaration too. After signature the declaration goes into envelope E-10 — ⚠️ not sealed.

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§9 — 🚨 The complete envelope scheme (E-1 to E-14) [MG Ch.11(6)-(7)]

One of each envelope is prepared for each polling station. 🚨 Do not forget to endorse the envelopes as you prepare them — write the endorsement entries out in full.

9.1 The 8 envelopes to be sealed (with lac)

📘 Legal basis — rule 48-A (added 22.08.2026)

"48-A. Sealing of polling materials and other papers.— The presiding officer … as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, shall in the presence of any candidate or election agent or polling agent who may be present, make up into separate packets and seal with his seal and the seal of such candidates or agents as may desire to affix their seals:— (a) the marked copy of the electoral roll; (b) the tendered ballot papers; (c) the list of tendered votes; (d) the list of challenged votes; (e) the certificate in Form 16 produced by officers on election duty; (f) the register of voters in Form 14-A; (g) any other papers directed by the State Election Commission to be kept in a sealed packet."

🚨 Seven items, not three. These seven go into the sealed envelopes (E-1…E-8) below — and these are precisely the papers that rule 74-A(1) forbids opening without an order of a court (see Counting/en §envelopes).

⚠️ "in the presence of any candidate or agent" — that condition is in the rule; do not drop it.

9.2 The 6 envelopes not to be sealed

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§9-A — 🔴 The close-of-poll rule chain — 47-A → 48-A → 49-A → 50-A (23.08.2026)

Everything at §5 to §9 comes from the Margdarsika. Its legal basis is these four rules — I read all four first-hand from the ULB Manual. They are set out below.

🔴 Rule 47-A — three categories may affix seals, not just polling agents

"(1) As soon as practicable after the closing of the poll, the presiding officer shall close the control unit … and shall detach the balloting unit from control unit. (2) The control unit and balloting unit shall thereafter be sealed and secured SEPARATELY in such manner as the State Election Commission may direct and the seal … shall be so fixed that it will not be possible to open the units without breaking the seals. (3) The polling agents or election agents or candidates present at the polling station, who desires to affix their seals, shall also be permitted to do so."

🚨 Sub-rule (3) names three categories — polling agent OR election agent OR candidate. Do not turn a candidate away by saying "polling agents only".

🔴 The closing sentence of rule 48-A — the most-missed line

"The presiding officer shall, after sealing all the packet, ENDORSE ON EACH PACKET A DESCRIPTION OF ITS CONTENTS."

✅ §9 already carries this caution — but as a Margdarsika precaution. 🔴 Now know it as what it is: a requirement of the rule, not a precaution.

🔴 Rule 49-A(2) — these words must be written on the envelope

"(1) The presiding officer shall at the close of the poll, prepare an account of votes recorded in Form 14-C. (2) The presiding officer shall place the account of votes recorded in a separate envelope and endorse on it the words "Account of Votes Recorded"."

🚨 This was not in the module. Writing just "E-9" on envelope E-9 is not enough — the rule requires the words "Account of Votes Recorded".

Rule 50-A — four things go to the RO

50-A(2) — "The returning officer shall make adequate arrangements for the safe transport of the voting machine, packets and other papers and for their safe custody UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNTING OF VOTES." ✅ This is the link that joins poll day to counting day — see Counting/en §20.

🚨 Rule 54-A(1) — on an adjournment this whole chain runs

"If the poll at any polling station is adjourned under rule 53, the provisions of rules 47A, 48A, 49A and 50A shall, as far as practicable, apply as if the poll was closed at the hour fixed in that behalf under rule 25."

🔴 So an adjournment requires the full close-of-poll sequence — close the machine, detach the BU, seal, make up the packets, endorse them, Form 14-C, hand over to the RO — as if the poll had closed at the appointed hour. There is no "we will do it later" option.

✅ One clarification — the list appears in TWO places, not one. The applied-rule list in the table at 09 §9 is attributed to rule 55(5) — that is correct. 🔴 But the identical list is also printed at rule 54-A(5), for the adjourned poll. So the adjournment column has its own rule too; it is not merely "the same list". I read both texts myself.

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§10 — One-page summary

identify (EPIC / order 5310 dt 30.07.2026) → challenge? → ₹2 + Annex-13 receipt → Form-13 → summary inquiry (on oath)
                                            └─ proved → police + Annex-9 complaint → fee 'forfeited'
blind/infirm → companion 18+ (once a day) → Annex-12 declaration → Form-12 → E-14 (not sealed)
a bogus vote already cast → tendered ballot (20 supplied) → ink → Form 14-B → signature
      → stamp 'tendered ballot paper' + distinguishing mark → marked with arrow-cross seal → E-5 (sealed)
close → announce a few minutes before → slips from the TAIL of the queue → all vote → declare closed
      → 'Close' (only if Busy is off; if it stays on, disconnect BU and switch power on again)
      → total figure → Form 14-C Part 1 item 5
      → reconcile: item 5 = item 2 − item 3 − item 4
      → disconnect BU-CU → power off → into the boxes → thread + address tag + PRO's seal
      → candidates'/agents' signatures → Annex-6 Part 3 → E-10 (not sealed)
      → envelopes E-1…E-8 sealed · E-9…E-14 not sealed
      → 🔴 endorse EVERY packet with a description of its contents [r.48-A]
      → 🔴 endorse E-9 with the words "Account of Votes Recorded" [r.49-A(2)]