Section 31 in Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations (Conduct of Election of Members, Election Expenses and Election Petitions) Rules, 2005
31. Adjournment of poll in emergencies.
(1)(a)Where the poll is adjourned under Section 58 of the Act, the fact that the poll has been so stopped shall be immediately be announced by the Presiding Officer to the persons present at the polling station.(b)If the Presiding Officer considers it necessary to stop polling for a short interval due to heavy rain or dislocation of work in the polling station for some reason or other or due to disturbance of peace in the neighbourhood of the polling station, he can do so by informing the public to that effect under intimation to the Commissioner through the Returning Officer. In such an event, the poll can be resumed and continued beyond the period fixed for the poll to the extent of the time for which the poll was stopped.(2)Where a Presiding Officer stops a poll under sub-rule (1) (a), he shall observe the procedure laid down in Rule 34 and make a full report of the circumstances to the Commissioner through Returning Officer. The Commissioner in turn shall forward the same expeditiously with his remarks thereon, to the State Election Commission through the Election Authority.(3)The State Election Commission shall thereupon order, -(a)that the poll be continued at the polling station for the number of hours for which it was not held on the previous occasion, provided that not less than 50% of the voters had cast their votes; or(b)that the proceedings at the poll held at the polling station on the previous occasion be ignored and that a fresh poll be held at such polling station for the full number of hours for which it should have been held on the previous occasion.(4)Any order passed under sub-rule (3) shall state, -(i)the date on which and the hours between which the continuation poll or the fresh poll, as the case may be, shall be held; and(ii)the date on which and the place and hour at which, the Returning Officer will commence the counting of the votes; and(5)(a)where an order is passed under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) for the continuation of the poll, the Returning Officer shall proceed afresh for conducting the poll and return to the Presiding Officer appointed all the packets received by him under sub-rule (2).(b)the Presiding Officer shall open the packets just before the commencement of the continuation poll in the presence of such persons as may be present at the polling station and commence such poll precisely at the hour fixed there for in the order passed by the State Election Commission under clause (a) of sub-rule (3).(c)at the continuation poll, the Presiding Officer shall allow only such electors to vote who did not vote on the previous occasion.(6)Where an order is passed under clause (b) of sub-rule (3) for holding a fresh poll, the Returning Officer shall proceed afresh for conducting a fresh poll which shall be held at the polling station concerned in accordance with the provisions of these rules in all respects as if it were being held at such polling station for the first time.Explanation. - There shall be no fresh nominations in cases falling under this sub-rule.(7)Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, if a candidate belonging to a recognised political party or a registered political party to which a symbol, if any, is reserved, dies at any time before orders are passed by the State Election Commission under sub-rule (3) or at any time after the passing of such orders but before the commencement of continuation poll or of the fresh poll, as the case may be, the Returning Officer shall upon being satisfied of the fact of the death of the candidate, intimate such fact to the State Election Commission through the Commissioner and stop all further proceedings in connection with the election and start election proceedings afresh in all respects as if for a new election to the seat concerned:Provided that no fresh nomination shall be necessary in the case of the remaining candidates who stood nominated at the time when poll was stopped.
