Section 58 in Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2006
58. Grounds for rejection of ballot papers.
(1)The Returning Officer shall reject a ballot paper, -(a)if it bears any mark or writing by which the elector can be identified, or(b)if it bears no mark at all to indicate the vote, it bears a mark elsewhere than on or near the symbol of one of the candidates on the face of the ballot paper or, it bears a mark made otherwise than with the instrument supplied for the purpose, or(c)if votes are given on it in favour of more than one candidate, or(d)if the mark indicating the vote thereon is placed in such manner as to make it doubtful as to which candidate the vote has been given, or(e)if it is a spurious ballot paper, or(f)if it is so damaged or mutilated that its identity as a genuine ballot paper cannot be established, or(g)if it bears a serial number, or is of a design, different from the serial numbers, or, as the case may be, design, of the ballot papers authorised for use at the particular polling station, or(h)if it does not bear both the distinguishing mark and the signature which it should have borne under the provisions of rule 45.Provided that where the Returning Officer is satisfied that any such defect as is mentioned in clause(g) or clause (h) has been caused by any mistake or failure on the part of a Presiding Officer or Polling Officer, the ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground of such defect:Provided further that a ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground that the mark indicating the vote is indistinct or made more than once, if the intention that the vote shall be for a particular candidate clearly appears from the way the paper is marked.(2)Before rejecting any ballot paper under sub-rule (1), the Returning Officer shall allow candidates and their counting agents present a reasonable opportunity to inspect the ballot paper but shall not allow them to handle it or any other ballot paper.(3)The Returning Officer shall endorse on every ballot paper which he rejects the word "rejected" and the grounds of rejection in abbreviated form either in his own hand or by means of a rubber stamp and shall initial such endorsement.(4)All ballot papers rejected under this rule shall be bundled together.(5)Every ballot paper which is not rejected under this rule shall be counted as one valid vote.
