Section 23 in Tamil Nadu Local Bodies (Election of Members to the District Planning Committee) Rules, 1999
23. Procedure for voting.
(1)The Presiding Officer shall, immediately before the commencement of the poll, show the ballot box empty to such contesting candidates or their polling agents present and shall then seal it using a metal wire in such a way that the ballot paper can only be inserted but could not be withdrawn from it.(2)As soon as a voter enters into the polling station, the Polling Officer concerned shall verify the identity of the voter on the basis of the identification certificate issued under rule 21. After establishing the identity of the voter correctly and before any ballot paper is delivered to a voter, the Presiding Officer shall affix his signature in the full on the back of that ballot paper and affix the distinguishing mark of the polling station. The serial number and other particulars of the voter shall be noted in the counterfoil and the voter shall be required to sign it. The entry relating to the voter in the marked copy of the list shall be underlined.(3)The voter, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed to one of the voting compartments which is vacant, and then, with the aid of the instrument supplied for the purpose, make a mark on the ballot paper against the name(s) of the candidate or candidates for whom he intends to vote. He shall, then, fold the ballot paper so as to ensure secrecy of voting, and then, insert the folded ballot paper into the ballot box kept for the purpose.(4)Every voter shall vote without undue delay and shall leave the polling station as soon as he had voted. He shall not insert anything except ballot paper in the ballot box.(5)If the Presiding Officer is satisfied that owing to old age, blindness, illiteracy or other physical infirmity, a voter is unable to read the names of the candidates or to make mark or marks thereon without assistance, the Presiding Officer shall permit the voter to take with him a companion of not less than 18 years of age to the voting compartment for recording his vote on the ballot paper on his behalf and in accordance with his wishes. The Presiding Officer shall keep a record of all such cases under this rule in his diary.(6)Any voter whom the Presiding Officer considers that he is causing obstruction, disobeying the directions of the Presiding Officer or adopting unfair and unreasonable measures so as to delay the poll or waste the ballot paper, the Presiding Officer shall have power to direct such voter to leave the polling station after taking back the ballot paper, if any, with such a voter.
