Section 51 in Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2006
51. Closing of Poll and Sealing of Ballot Boxes and covers after poll.
(1)The Presiding Officer shall close the polling station at the hour appointed for closing and shall not thereafter admit any elector into the polling station:Provided that all electors present at the polling station before it is closed shall be allowed to cast their votes.(2)If any question arises whether an elector was present at the polling station before it was closed, it shall be decided by the Presiding Officer and his decision shall be final.(3)The Presiding Officer of each polling station, as soon as practicable, after the close of the poll, shall close the slit of the ballot box and where the box does not contain any mechanical device for closing the slit, he shall seal up the slit and also allow any polling agent present to affix his seal. The ballot box shall thereafter be sealed and secured.(4)Where it becomes necessary to use a second ballot box by reason of the first ballot box getting full, the first box shall be closed, sealed and secured as provided in sub-rule (3) before another ballot box is put into use.(5)The Presiding Officer of each polling station, as soon as practicable, after the close of the poll, shall in the presence of any candidate or polling agents who may be present make up the following into separate packets and seal with his own seal and the seals of such candidates or agents as may desire to affix their seals:(i)the tendered ballot papers;(ii)the unused ballot papers;(iii)the spoilt and returned ballot papers;(iv)the marked copy of the electoral roll;(v)the tendered votes list;(vi)the list of challenged votes;(vii)the counterfoils of used ballot papers;(viii)the ballot papers cancelled for violation of voting procedure; and(ix)any other papers directed by the State Election Commission to be kept in a sealed cover / packet.(6)Each packet shall be numbered and shall bear a note as to its contents, description of the election and the polling stations. Where no vote has been recorded at any polling station, the Presiding Officer shall submit a ,nil, report.
