Section 54 in Andhra Pradesh Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats (Direct Election of Chairperson) Rules, 1986
54.
(1)A ballot shall be rejected if--(a)the mark is not made thereon; or(b)the mark is set opposite the name of more than one candidate or is so placed as to render it doubtful to which candidate it is intended to apply; or(c)the mark and some other figures are set opposite the name of same candidate; or(d)it bears any mark of writing by which the elector can be identified; or(e)is a spurious one; or(f)it is so damaged or that its identify as a genuine ballot paper, cannot be identified; or(g)bears the marks belonging to a ward different from that of the ballot box in which it is found:Provided that a ballot paper shall not be rejected under clause (e) if the Election Officer is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the ballot paper was the one issued by the Presiding Officer of the Polling Station concerned.(2)A postal ballot paper which is not duly marked, or on which--(a)more than one mark is placed against any candidate's name; or(b)votes are given to more candidates than one candidate to be elected; or(c)a mark is placed in such a manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate it has been given; or(d)the signature of the voter is not duly attested, shall be invalid.(3)The decision of the Election Officer as to the validity of a ballot paper or a postal ballot paper shall be final, subject only to reversal on an election petition.
