Section 54 in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Elections) Rules, 1995
54. Spoilt and returned ballot papers.
(1)An elector who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as ballot paper may return it to the Presiding Officer, who is satisfied of the inadvertence, may issue another ballot paper and the ballot paper so returned shall be marked "Spoilt-can-celled" by the Presiding Officer.(2)If an elector, after obtaining a ballot paper, decides not to use it, he shall return it to the Presiding Officer and the ballot paper so returned shall be marked "Returned-cancelled", by the Presiding Officer.(3)If an elector to whom a ballot paper has been issued, refuses, after warning given by the Presiding Officer, to observe the procedure as laid down in rule 51, the ballot paper or ballot papers issued to him shall, whether he has recorded his vote thereon or not, be taken back from him by the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer under the direction of the Presiding Officer. After the ballot paper or ballot papers have been taken back, the Presiding Officer shall record on its back the words "Cancelled-voting procedure violated".(4)All such ballot papers under sub-rules (1), (2) and (3) shall be signed by the Presiding Officer below those words and kept in separate covers and put into the packet referred to in rule 58.
