Section 28 in Andhra Pradesh Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Rules
28. Closing of poll and sealing of ballot boxes and covers after poll.
(1)The Polling Officer shall close the polling station at the hour appointed for closing under Clause (e) of sub-rule (5) of Rule 2 and shall not thereafter admit any elector into a 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 Polling Officer and his decision shall be final.(3)The Polling 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 devise 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 foregoing provisions of this rule shall not apply to a Polling Officer of a polling station to whom Election Authority has issued a direction asking him to proceed in accordance with sub-rule (6).(6)At any such polling station as may be specified under sub-rule (5) as soon as practicable, after the close of poll, the Polling Officer shall-(a)transfer all the ballot papers contained in the ballot box or boxes used at that polling station, without examining or counting them and with due regard to the secrecy of the ballot, into a cloth bag or cloth lined cover after demonstrating to the polling agents present that the bag or cover is empty; and(b)allow the polling agent present to inspect each ballot box and demonstrate to them that it has been emptied.(7)The Polling 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 decide 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 with the statement or statements mentioned in sub-rule (2) or Rule 25;(vii)Counterfoils of used ballot papers; and(viii)the ballot papers cancelled for violation of voting procedure under Rule 20.(8)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 Polling Officer shall submit a nil' report together with the statement in Form 15.
