Section 30 in Andhra Pradesh Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Rules
30. Scrutiny of Opening of Ballot Boxes and Counting of Votes.
(1)(a)The counting of votes shall commence on the day and at the place and hour appointed in this behalf.(b)The Election Officer shall, atleast three days before the date, or the first of the dates, fixed for the poll appoint the place or places where the counting of votes will be done and the date and time at which the counting will commence and shall give notice of the same in writing to each candidate or his election agent:Provided that if for any reason the Election Officer finds it necessary so to do, he may alter the date, time and place or places so fixed, or any of them, after giving notice of the same in writing to each candidate or his election agent.(c)Votes shall be counted by or under the supervision of the Election Officer. The Election Officer shall appoint such number of counting assistants as may be necessary to assist him in counting of votes.(d)Each, candidate, election agent of each candidate, and one representative of each candidate authorised in writing by the candidate shall have a right to be present except such person or persons as the Election Officer may appoint to assist him in counting votes. No person shall be appointed to assist in counting the votes who has been employed by or on behalf of any candidate or any person whatsoever connected with the election of the candidate.(2)(a)The Election Officer shall open, or cause to be opened, simultaneously the ballot box or boxes used at more than one polling station and shall have the total number of ballot papers found in such box or boxes counted and recorded in Part II of Ballot Paper Account (Form 15);(b)Discrepancy, if any, between the total number of such ballot papers recorded as aforesaid and the total number of ballot papers issued to voters as shown in Item 3 of Part I of the said Form 15 minus the number of ballot papers cancelled as shown in Items 4 thereof and the number of papers as shown in Item 5 thereof, shall also be recorded in Part II of Form 15.(c)Before any ballot box is opened for counting of votes the counting agents present thereat shall be allowed to inspect the paper seal or such other seal as might have been affixed thereon and to satisfy themselves that the ballot box is intact.(d)The Election Officer shall satisfy himself that none of the ballot boxes has in fact been tampered with in any way.(e)If the Election Officer is satisfied that any ballot box has in fact been tampered with, he shall not count the ballot papers contained in that box and shall follow the procedure laid down in Rule 35 in respect of that polling station.(3)The Election Officer shall, as far as practicable, proceed continuously with the counting of votes, and shall, during any necessary intervals during which the counting has to be suspended, place ballot papers, packets and other documents relating to the election under his own seal and the seals of such candidates or agents as may desire to affix them and shall cause adequate precautions to be taken for their safe custody.
