Section 4 in Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2006
4. Issue of election notification by the State Election Commission.
(1)For the purpose of holding elections to fill ordinary or casual vacancies, the State Election Commission shall, by notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, call upon, on such date or dates, as may be specified therein, the voters of the Gram Panchayat or Mandal Praja Parishad or Zilla Praja Parishad, as the case may be, to elect Sarpanch and members of the Gram Panchayat and/or Members of the Mandal Praja Parishad and/or Members of Zilla Praja Parishad, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the rules and orders, if any, made thereunder.(2)The notification shall specify the last date for making nominations, the date for scrutiny of nominations, the last date for withdrawal of the candidature, the date or dates on which and the time during which the poll shall, if necessary, be taken and the date and time of counting of votes.(3)The dates appointed for the various stages of the election shall be subject to the following guidelines, namely -(a)the last date for making nominations shall be not earlier than fourth day and not later than tenth day after the publication of the notification referred to in sub-rule (1) whether or not it is a public holiday;(b)the date for the scrutiny of nominations shall be the day immediately following the last date for making nominations whether or not it is a public holiday;(c)the last date and time for withdrawal of the candidatures shall not be later than 3-0,clock in the afternoon of the third day succeeding that appointed for scrutiny of the nominations, whether or not it is a public holiday;(d)the date or dates on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken, which or first of which shall be a date not earlier than the fifth day after the last date for withdrawal of the candidatures;(e)counting of votes shall be taken up -(i)for the offices of Ward Member and Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat, after the completion of poll, on the same day; and(ii)for the offices of Member, Mandal Praja Parishad and Member, Zilla Praja Parishad, on the date and time appointed by the State Election Commission.
