Section 51 in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Elections) Rules, 1995
51. Issue of ballot papers and voting procedure.
(1)Before any ballot paper is delivered to an elector, the Presiding Officer shall sign his name in full on the back of each ballot paper and affix the distinguishing mark of the polling station, the serial number and other particulars of the elector shall be noted in the counter-foil, if any, and the elector shall be required to sign it. The entry relating to the elector in the marked copy of the electoral roll shall be underlined. No person in the polling station shall note down the serial numbers of the ballot papers issued to a particular elector.(2)Each elector shall be given only one ballot paper for each election. The elector, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed lo one of the voting compartments which is vacant, and there, with the aid of the instrument supplied for the purpose, make a mark on the ballot paper against the name or symbol of the candidate or candidates for whom he intends to vote. The mark may be made anywhere in the compartment within which the name and symbol, as the case may be, of such candidate is printed on the ballot paper. In cases, where more than one candidate have to be elected, the elector may make as many marks on the ballot paper in favour of as many candidates as are to be elected. He shall, then, fold the ballot paper so as to conceal his vote and after showing to the Polling Officer the distinguishing mark stamped on its back, insert the folded ballot paper into the ballot box kept for the purpose.(3)Every elector shall vote without undue delay and shall quit the polling station as soon as he had voted. He shall not place anything except ballot paper in the ballot box. Anything other than ballot papers found in the box at the time of counting of votes, shall be forfeited.(4)No elector shall be allowed to enter a voting compartment when another elector is inside it.
