Section 51 in Andhra Pradesh Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats (Direct Election of Chairperson) Rules, 1986
51.
(1)The Presiding Officer shall close the polling station at the hour appointed for closing under Rule 5 or sub rules (1)(b) and (4) of Rule 49 as the case may be, and shall not thereafter admit any elector into a polling station:Provided that all electors present at the polling station before it is closed shall be allowed to cast their votes.(2)If any question arises as to whether any elector shall, for the purpose of the proviso to sub-rule (1) be deemed to be present within the polling station before it is closed, the question shall be referred to the Presiding Officer whose decision shall be final.(3)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 and where the box does not contain any mechanical device for closing the suit, he shall seal up the slit and also allow any polling agent present to affix his seal. The ballot box thereafter be sealed and secured.(4)The Presiding Officer of each polling station as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, shall in the presence of any candidate, polling agent or election agent who may be present make up into separate packets and seal with his own seal and the seals of such candidates or agents as may decide to affix their seals--(i)the tendered ballot papers;(ii)the unused ballot papers or ballot papers with counterfoils or foils;(iii)the spoilt ballot papers;(iii-a) the counterfoils is issued ballot papers including tendered ballot papers;(iv)the marked copy of the electoral roll;(v)the tendered votes list;(vi)the list of challenged votes with the statement or statement mentioned in sub-rule (2) of Rule 46;(vii)the covers referred to clause (ii) of sub-rule (4) of Rule 48; and(viii)any other paper directed by the Election Officer to be kept in a sealed cover.(5)Each packet shall be numbered and shall bear a note as to its contents, the name of the polling station and name and number of the ward where no vote has been recorded at any polling station, the Presiding Officer shall submit a nil report together with the statement in Form XVI referred to in sub-rule (6).(6)The packet shall be accompanied by a statement in a separate cover in Form XVI, made by the Presiding Officer showing the number of ballot papers in the ballot boxes, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.
