Section 58 in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Elections) Rules, 1995
58. 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 in the polling station:Provided that, unless the poll is closed under sub-rule (1) of rule 56, 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 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 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 and allow the candidates or agents to affix their own seals, if they so desire, -(i)the marked copy of the electoral roll or rolls;(ii)the unused ballot papers and the spoilt, returned, tendered and cancelled ballot papers; and(iii)any other papers as directed by the State Election Commission:Provided that the State Election Commission may direct that a common packet for all the elections can be made for the different items referred to above.(4)(a)The Presiding Officer shall, at the close of the poll, prepare a ballot paper account for each election in Form 20 for transmission to the Returning Officer. It may be enclosed in separate cover with the words, "Ballot Paper Account" superscribed thereon. When two or more elections are held simultaneously, the ballot paper account shall be enclosed in separate covers or in a common cover as the State Election Commission may direct, from time to time.(b)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 or accounts attested by him after obtaining a receipt from the said polling agent therefor.
