Section 56 in The Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats, Third Grade Municipalities, Municipalities and Corporations (Elections) Rules, 2006
56. Closing of poll.
(1)(a)The Presiding Officer shall close the polling station at the hour fixed in that behalf under these rules and shall not thereafter admit any elector into the polling station:Provided that, unless the poll is stopped under sub-rule (1) of rule 54, all electors present at the polling station before it is closed shall be allowed to cast their votes.(b)if any question arises whether an elector was present at the polling station before it was closed, it shall be decided by the Presiding Officer whose decision shall be final.(2)(a)The Presiding Officer of each polling station, as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, shall close the slit of the ballot box or boxes and where the box does not contain any mechanical device for closing the slit, he shall seal up the slit and also allow any candidate or polling agent present to affix his seal. The ballot box shall, thereafter, be sealed and secured.(b)Where it becomes necessary to use a second ballot box by reason of the first ballot box getting full, the first ballot box shall be closed and sealed as provided in clause (a) before another ballot box is put into use.(3)The Presiding Officer shall then make up the following into separate packets and seal them with the seal supplied and allow the candidates or agents to affix their own seals if they so desire:-(i)the marked copy of the electoral roll;(ii)unused ballot papers and all cancelled ballot papers under rule 52;(iii)the tendered ballot papers and the tendered voters list;(iv)the unused and damaged paper seals;(v)(a)Receipt for challenge fee;(b)statement of deposit on challenged votes; and(c)list of challenged votes;(vi)any other papers that may be specified by the State Election Commission;(4)The Presiding Officer shall also prepare separate covers as indicated below:-(a)Covers containing-(i)ballot paper account in Form 20;(ii)paper seal account; and(iii)Presiding Officer's Diary;(b)Covers containing record of blind or infirm voters and declaration by companions of blind or infirm voters;(c)Miscellaneous cover containing-(i)reference copy of electoral roll;(ii)declaration by Presiding Officer;(iii)appointment letters of polling agents;(iv)unused stationery;(v)pusher;(vi)other polling materials like drawing pins, badges-with safety pin, gem-clips, etc.(5)The Presiding Officer shall also prepare any other cover that may be specified by the State Election Commission.(6)The Presiding Officer shall furnish to every polling agent present at the close of the poll, a true copy of the entries made in the ballot paper account after obtaining a receipt from the said polling agent therefor and shall also attest it as a true copy.
