Section 30A(10) in The Orissa Co-operative Societies Rules, 1965
(10)(a)The proceedings of the Election Meeting shall commence by the Election Officer or any person authorised by him after explaining the nature and object of meeting to the assembled voters. He shall maintain order in the meeting and shall see that the election is fairly conducted. For this purpose he may take resort of the polling assistance.(b)The Secretary or the Executive Officer of the Society shall provide the ballot boxes, ballot papers, copy of the final electoral rolls and other articles as may be necessary for conducting the election.(c)Immediately before the commencement of the election, the Election Officer or the person presiding over the meeting shall show the empty box to such person, as may be present at the time and shall lock it up and place his seal upon it in such manner so as to present its being opened without breaking the seal and place it in front of him.(d)The ballot paper shall contain the names of the candidates in regional language or English language, alongwith the symbol of the candidate, the seal of the Society concerned and the signature of the Election Officer or the person presiding over the meeting and any other special mark by the Election Officer.(e)There shall be a separate compartment screened from observation in which the members are to record their votes.(f)No ballot paper shall be issued to a member unless the Election Officer or the person presiding over the meeting is satisfied that the member concerned is the same person as noted in the list furnished to him.(g)On receiving the ballot paper a member shall forthwith proceed into the polling compartment, put a mark on the ballot paper against the name or names of the candidate or candidates for whom he desires to vote and insert the ballot papers into the ballot box kept before the Election Officer with the utmost secrecy.(h)If owing to physical infirmity or illiteracy, a member is unable to make the ballot paper, the Election Officer or any person presiding over the meeting shall ascertain from him, the candidate or candidates on whose favour he desires to vote, put the mark on his behalf and insert the ballot paper into ballot box.(i)The Election Officer or any person presiding over the meeting shall close the polling station at the hour appointed in that behalf in the notice, so as to present admission thereto or any voter after that hour.(j)No ballot paper shall be issued after the appointed closing hour but any voter who has received his ballot paper before that hour shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to record his vote.(k)An elector who inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in such a manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper may, on delivering it to the Election Officer or any person presided over the meeting and satisfying him of the inadvertence the letter shall together with its counterfoil be marked as 'cancelled' by the Election Officer or any person presided over the meeting who shall put his signature thereto.(l)The counting of votes commence as soon as possible after the voting is completed. Votes shall be counted by or under the supervision of the Election Officer. Each candidate has a right to be present at the time of counting.(m)A ballot paper shall be rejected by the Election Officer, if -(i)it bears the mark by which member who votes can be identified; or(ii)it does not bear the seal of the Society; or(iii)it does not bear the signature of the Election Officer or the officer presiding ever the meeting or any other special mark given in the ballot paper by the Election Officer; or(iv)the mark indicating the symbol of voting the name or symbol of a candidate is marked in such manner as to make it doubtful to which candidates, the vote has been cast; or(v)it bears no mark at all.(n)(i)The Election Officer shall count the votes and declare the result. Proceeding shall be recorded in the Minute Book of the Society by the Election Officer with a copy to the Registrar, Deputy Registrar or the Assistant Registrars, as the case may be.(ii)Any person other than the Election Officer, acting as Presiding Officer on completion of the polling shall carry the sealed polling box to the Election Officer who shall count the votes and declare result in the manner as above.(iii)The result shall be decided on majority of vote and in case of equality of votes for two or more candidates the result shall be declared by lot, provided that, decision by lot shall be applied only in case of equality of votes for the last seat.(iv)Before declaration of the result the Election Officer shall tally the number of ballot paper issued by him with the number cast, rejected and cancelled and if there is any discrepancy, he shall order for a fresh poll on the same day or on any other day fixed by him.(v)On completion of election, the Election officer shall handover the ballot papers and all other records relating to the election in a secured container to the Secretary or the Executive Officer of the Society which shall be locked and sealed with the seal of the Society, the seal of the Election Officer and the seal of any contesting candidate if he so desires in such a manner so as to prevent it being opened without breaking the seal. The ballot papers shall be destroyed after expiry of the period of three months if no dispute relating to the election is referred to [under the act.] [Substituted by A. & C. Department Notification No. 1807-dated 1.2.1986 - See Orissa Gazette Extraordinary No 137, dated 5.2.1986.]
