Section 54 in The Bihar Panchayat Election Rules, 2006
54. Ballot Box.
- Subject to the order of the State Election Commission, each ballot box will be of such design in which ballot paper may be dropped but cannot be taken out without tempering the paper seal used and without opening the box.[Provided that in addition to ballot boxes, the giving and recording of votes by voting machines also in such manner as may be prescribed, may be adopted in all constituencies or in such constituency or constituencies, by the State Election Commission, as it may, having regard to the circumstances of each case, specify. "Voting machine" means any machine or apparatus whether operated electronically or otherwise used for giving or recording of votes and any reference to a ballot box or a ballot paper in the Act or rules made thereunder shall, save as otherwise provided, be construed as including a reference to such voting machine wherever such voting machine is used at any election.In case of use of Electronic voting machines for polling, procedure to be followed for recording and counting of the votes, sealing of machines and declaration of results etc. shall be prescribed by the State Election Commission:Provided that, as far as practicable, whenever electronic voting machines will be used, a hard copy of all data pertaining to different candidates will be prepared in the same format, as it is displayed in the control unit, and after putting in signatures of all candidates present at the time of counting or their election agents and the Returning Officer on the format, it shall be kept in a gauze envelope sealed by the secret seal specially provided by the State Election Commission to each Returning Officer and shall be kept in safe custody of the District Election Officer. The action regarding custody and destruction of such sealed envelopes shall be taken under Rule 86. The secret seal supplied by the Commission shall invariably be returned to the Commission within thirty six hours of declaration of results."] [Inserted by Rule 3 of Amdt. Rules, 2007 vide Notification No. 5595, dated 29.11.2007, Published in Bihar Gazette (Extra-ordinary) dated 4.12.2007.]
