Section 47 in The Goa Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Rules, 2010
47. Scrutiny and rejection of ballot papers.
(1)The ballot papers taken out of each ballot box shall be arranged in convenient bundles and scrutinized.(2)The Returning Officer shall reject a ballot paper,-(a)if it bears any mark or writing by which the voter can be identified; or(b)if no vote is recorded thereon; or(c)if votes are given on ballot paper in favour of more candidates than there are vacancies to be filled in or if more than one vote is recorded on it for one candidate; or(d)if the mark indicating the votes thereon is placed in such manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate the vote has been given; or(e)if it is a spurious ballot paper; or(f)if it is so damaged or mutilated that it's identity as a genuine ballot paper cannot be established; or(g)if it bears the serial number, or is of the design different from the serial number, or as the case may be design of ballot paper authorized for use at the polling station; or(h)if it does not bear the distinguishing mark which it should have borne under the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 34:Provided that-(i)where Returning Officer is satisfied that any such defect as is mentioned in clause (g) or (h) has been caused by any mistake or failure on the part of the Presiding Officer or the Polling Officer, the ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground of such defect;(ii)a ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground that the mark indicating the vote is indistinct or made more than once, if the vote for a particular candidate clearly appears from the way the paper is marked.(3)Before rejecting any ballot paper under sub-rule (2), the Returning Officer shall give each counting agent present a reasonable opportunity to inspect the ballot paper but shall not allow him to handle it or any other ballot paper.(4)The Returning Officer shall record on every ballot paper which he rejects the letter "R" and the grounds of rejection in abbreviated form either in his own writing or by means of a rubber stamp.(5)All ballot papers rejected under this rule shall be bundled together.
