1. Counting of Votes(Rule-105)Counting of Votes(Rule-105)
Communication to Candidates &Communication to Candidates &
Recognized Political PartiesRecognized Political Parties
 Venue of Storage of polled ballot boxes &Venue of Storage of polled ballot boxes &
other records and materials.other records and materials.
 Venue, date & time for counting.Venue, date & time for counting.
 To be communicatedTo be communicated at least seven daysat least seven days
ahead of date of poll.ahead of date of poll.

3. Strong Room(Rule-99)Strong Room(Rule-99)
 To keep :To keep :
a) Polled ballot boxes.a) Polled ballot boxes.
b) Ballot paper a/c.b) Ballot paper a/c.
c) Paper seal a/c.c) Paper seal a/c.
d) Presiding officer’s diary/declaration.d) Presiding officer’s diary/declaration.
e) Any other paper considered necessary.e) Any other paper considered necessary.

4. There may be one or three rooms used asThere may be one or three rooms used as
strong room(s).strong room(s).
To be close to counting hall and secured.To be close to counting hall and secured.
If all boxes are kept in one room the boxesIf all boxes are kept in one room the boxes
are to be kept tire wise as per sequence ofare to be kept tire wise as per sequence of
counting for different tiers.counting for different tiers.
Sequential arrangement should be suchSequential arrangement should be such
that boxes may be brought out easily inthat boxes may be brought out easily in
the order of a) GP b) PS c) ZP.the order of a) GP b) PS c) ZP.

5.  Clear record of boxes kept in strong room to beClear record of boxes kept in strong room to be
maintained.maintained.
 Strong room shall remain under lock & key andStrong room shall remain under lock & key and
sealed after all boxes and records are in.sealed after all boxes and records are in.
 Candidates /Election agents may put their sealCandidates /Election agents may put their seal
also.also.
 Constant vigil of security guard.Constant vigil of security guard.
 Opening & maintaining logbook for noting timeOpening & maintaining logbook for noting time
&reason for opening and closing.&reason for opening and closing.
 Candidate to be given advance intimation beforeCandidate to be given advance intimation before
opening.opening.
 Each time after closing strong room candidatesEach time after closing strong room candidates
present may put their seal again.present may put their seal again.

6.  Returning officer can have a separate strongReturning officer can have a separate strong
room for ballot boxes in case of repoll ifroom for ballot boxes in case of repoll if
convenient.convenient.
 One competent officer to be deployed as in-One competent officer to be deployed as in-
charge for each of the strong rooms with thecharge for each of the strong rooms with the
functions:functions:
a)To place boxes and records in proper order.a)To place boxes and records in proper order.
b) monitor movement of boxes to the countingb) monitor movement of boxes to the counting
hall so that no wrong box goes to anyhall so that no wrong box goes to any
counting table.counting table.

7. Sequence of
counting(Rule-87)
• Counting shall be continuous and tier
wise with the following order:
1.Gram Panchayat.
2. Panchayat Samiti.
3. Zilla Parishad.
• For each tier before counting votes of
the polled ballot boxes ED votes should
be taken up for counting.
• The counting table shall receive polled
box of a prefixed polling station for G.P.
first, P.S, Second and Z.P. next.

8. • Polling station allotted to a
particular counting table to be
worked out earlier and declared in
the hall (Such earmarking may be
displayed in the hall also).
• One copy of such schedule to be
kept with PRO & one with strong
room in charge and,
• also to be pasted on the counting
table for its portion only.

9. Counting hall(Rule-100)Counting hall(Rule-100)
 To be in close proximity of strong room as far asTo be in close proximity of strong room as far as
possible under the same roof.possible under the same roof.
 If not possible under the same roof, well protectedIf not possible under the same roof, well protected
covered passage way to be erected for movementcovered passage way to be erected for movement
of polled boxes.of polled boxes.
 Maximum no of table in the hall will be 18 &Maximum no of table in the hall will be 18 &
minimum 08.minimum 08.
 If variation in no of tables on the higher/lower sideIf variation in no of tables on the higher/lower side
is unavoidable ,permission of SEC is required.is unavoidable ,permission of SEC is required.

10. Counting tables to be so arranged thatCounting tables to be so arranged that
counting may be completed in two roundscounting may be completed in two rounds
and under no circumstances beyond threeand under no circumstances beyond three
rounds.rounds.
Counting personnel for each table - oneCounting personnel for each table - one
counting officer, two counting assistants.counting officer, two counting assistants.
Counting personnel should preferably beCounting personnel should preferably be
Govt.employees in case of scarcity, schoolGovt.employees in case of scarcity, school
teacher and semi Govt. officers may beteacher and semi Govt. officers may be
drafted asdrafted as counting assistant onlycounting assistant only..
10%reserved counting personnel will be10%reserved counting personnel will be
advisable.advisable.

11. A person may be appointed asA person may be appointed as
counting officer who has eligibilitycounting officer who has eligibility
of being presiding officer.of being presiding officer.
Eligibility for counting assistantEligibility for counting assistant
will be same as that of firstwill be same as that of first
polling & second polling officer.polling & second polling officer.
Their should be 6 feet highTheir should be 6 feet high
chicken meshwork or bamboochicken meshwork or bamboo
barricade separating countingbarricade separating counting
table and counting agents.table and counting agents.

12. In each counting hall there will beIn each counting hall there will be
need for one APRO supported by 2/3need for one APRO supported by 2/3
assistants & a few Gr-D staff.assistants & a few Gr-D staff.
It is necessary to be careful thatIt is necessary to be careful that
ballot paper for two tiers do not getballot paper for two tiers do not get
mixed up at any stage.mixed up at any stage.
The hall in charge (P.R.O/A.P.R.O)The hall in charge (P.R.O/A.P.R.O)
shall always regulate flow of boxes toshall always regulate flow of boxes to
the hall and monitor as well as planthe hall and monitor as well as plan
and supervise supply of boxes to theand supervise supply of boxes to the
tables at every stage.tables at every stage.

13. • Any question of doubt about ballot papers
shall be settled at the counting table itself.
• If necessaryP. R.O./A.P.R.O will go down
to the counting table-no doubtful ballot
papers should go to PRO’s table.

14. Arrangement at counting hall &Arrangement at counting hall &
commencement of countingcommencement of counting
(Rule-100-103)(Rule-100-103)
Every counting hall & every table shall beEvery counting hall & every table shall be
serially numbered and prominentlyserially numbered and prominently
displayed at the entrance of the hall anddisplayed at the entrance of the hall and
on either side of the table.on either side of the table.
Sequence of ballot boxes (polling station)Sequence of ballot boxes (polling station)
tier wise, as earmarked for a particulartier wise, as earmarked for a particular
table is to be pasted on the table also.table is to be pasted on the table also.

15. Procedure for counting, resultProcedure for counting, result
sheet & certificates ofsheet & certificates of
election(Rule103-107)election(Rule103-107)
• Before commencement of counting
P.R.O./A.P.R.O. shall read out and explain
the provisions of Rule-102/Sec-108 in the
hall.
G.P counting:
• The Counting Officer shall after
completion of counting and preparation of
result sheet in Form-21 sign the sheet at
the table after which except for the wining
candidate, all other candidates shall be
asked to disperse.

16. The Counting Officer shall issue theThe Counting Officer shall issue the
Certificates of Election to the winingCertificates of Election to the wining
candidates of the Gram Panchayat seatcandidates of the Gram Panchayat seat
concerned after obtainingconcerned after obtaining
acknowledgement of receipt.acknowledgement of receipt.
The receipt copy and the copy of the resultThe receipt copy and the copy of the result
sheet along with the candidate-wisesheet along with the candidate-wise
bundles of ballot papers and bundle ofbundles of ballot papers and bundle of
rejected ballot papers, if any ,shall berejected ballot papers, if any ,shall be
immediately taken to the table of theimmediately taken to the table of the
Retuning Officer in the hall.Retuning Officer in the hall.

17. For Panchayat Samiti constituenciesFor Panchayat Samiti constituencies, the, the
Counting officer after preparing theCounting officer after preparing the
counting sheets shall take thecounting sheets shall take the signedsigned
counting sheet along with bundles ofcounting sheet along with bundles of
candidate- wise ballot papers and thecandidate- wise ballot papers and the
bundle of defective ballot papers if any, tobundle of defective ballot papers if any, to
the Returning officer/ Assistant Returningthe Returning officer/ Assistant Returning
officer in the hall. If there is any demandofficer in the hall. If there is any demand
for re-count, the demand may be settledfor re-count, the demand may be settled
according to rules and procedure.according to rules and procedure.

18. The Assistant Returning officer –in-charge shallThe Assistant Returning officer –in-charge shall
prepare the result sheet in Form-23 afterprepare the result sheet in Form-23 after
checking the candidate wise total votes securedchecking the candidate wise total votes secured
and the bundles of ballot papers received.and the bundles of ballot papers received.
The result sheet drawn up and signed by theThe result sheet drawn up and signed by the
Counting Officer or Assistant Returning officerCounting Officer or Assistant Returning officer
shall now be sent to the Returning officer presentshall now be sent to the Returning officer present
within counting venue for declaration of thewithin counting venue for declaration of the
result.result.
Returning officer shall now declare the result andReturning officer shall now declare the result and
grant the certificate of election after obtaininggrant the certificate of election after obtaining
receipted acknowledgement .receipted acknowledgement .

19. Counting procedure in auxiliaryCounting procedure in auxiliary
boothsbooths
Counting for main /original booths andCounting for main /original booths and
auxiliary booth will be done in the sameauxiliary booth will be done in the same
round and in the same room at adjacentround and in the same room at adjacent
tables.tables.
supervisor of the main table will prepare asupervisor of the main table will prepare a
consolidated result sheet and declareconsolidated result sheet and declare
result for GP and send to the APRO inresult for GP and send to the APRO in
charge for sealing etc & for further coursecharge for sealing etc & for further course
of action in respect of PSof action in respect of PS..

20. • In case of ZP constituency the
counting officer main table shall take
the signed counting sheet along with
the counted ballot paper bundles to the
ARO’s table. The PRO/APRO in charge
shall draw up result sheet in Form-23
consulting all such counting sheets for
a ZP constituency. The result sheet
shall be signed by BDO and sent to
SDO for declaration of result and
issuing certificate of election.

21. Counting of ED votes(Rule-86-103)Counting of ED votes(Rule-86-103)
 Polled ED ballot papers shall not repeat not bePolled ED ballot papers shall not repeat not be
sent to the polling station. Those will be retainedsent to the polling station. Those will be retained
by the Returning officer for opening on the dayby the Returning officer for opening on the day
of counting on 13of counting on 13thth
July,2013.July,2013.
 A hall wise and constituency wise list showingA hall wise and constituency wise list showing
numbers of E.D. votes shall be prepared beforenumbers of E.D. votes shall be prepared before
hand for each tier separately. Copies of such listhand for each tier separately. Copies of such list
shall be hung up by the side of the entrance ofshall be hung up by the side of the entrance of
hall just before counting of such constituencieshall just before counting of such constituencies
are taken in the hall.are taken in the hall.

22. E.D votes for the G P constituenciesE.D votes for the G P constituencies
shall be supplied to the countingshall be supplied to the counting
table for counting before opening thetable for counting before opening the
polled ballot box or boxes.polled ballot box or boxes.
For P S and Z P candidates also, theFor P S and Z P candidates also, the
E.D. votes shall be counted by theE.D. votes shall be counted by the
PRO/APRO at the table beforePRO/APRO at the table before
commencement of counting of votescommencement of counting of votes
in the polled ballot boxesin the polled ballot boxes

23. Procedure for double sheetedProcedure for double sheeted
constituency (Rule-105 4(B),5A)constituency (Rule-105 4(B),5A)
In case of double member GramIn case of double member Gram
Panchayat constituency when the votesPanchayat constituency when the votes
are recorded in the ballot papers in Formare recorded in the ballot papers in Form
13(2), there may be occasions when the13(2), there may be occasions when the
ballot paper is rejected for one seat andballot paper is rejected for one seat and
found valid for another one; such ballotfound valid for another one; such ballot
papers shall be treatedpapers shall be treated as partly validas partly valid
ballot papersballot papers and shall be made into aand shall be made into a
separate bundle.separate bundle.

24. All the valid and partly valid ballot papersAll the valid and partly valid ballot papers
shall be sorted candidatewise and madeshall be sorted candidatewise and made
into convenient bundles and there afterinto convenient bundles and there after
the counting officer shall record the votesthe counting officer shall record the votes
of each candidates inof each candidates in Form 19A by puttingForm 19A by putting
1(one) mark representing one vote in the1(one) mark representing one vote in the
relevant column of the candidate in arelevant column of the candidate in a
continuous rowcontinuous row andand
On completion of the exercise in respectOn completion of the exercise in respect
of all the ballot papers, shall count totalof all the ballot papers, shall count total
votes secured by each candidate, fill in allvotes secured by each candidate, fill in all
other column and sign the form.other column and sign the form.
in case of a double member constituency,in case of a double member constituency,
ballot papers shall be kept in commonballot papers shall be kept in common
bundles with rejected & partly valid ballotbundles with rejected & partly valid ballot
papers made into separate bundles.papers made into separate bundles.

25. Administrative arrangement
• Entry card to be issued by the R O/
ARO authorized. Their specimen
signatures should be made available to
the officer or officers in charge of
security.
• Cards for the PRO/APRO /Counting
Officer /Counting Asst/other officers
engaged should be distinctly different
from the cards for candidates and their
agents.

26.  It is convenient to issue cards of differentIt is convenient to issue cards of different
colours for different phases /tiers forcolours for different phases /tiers for
counting agents. the cards shall bear hallcounting agents. the cards shall bear hall
no and table no clearly specified.no and table no clearly specified.
 Time for admission into counting venueTime for admission into counting venue
may also be printed for each tiermay also be printed for each tier
separately .separately .
 No of counting agents allowed (No of counting agents allowed (pl see nopl see no
1255 dt 19-04-08 of SEC also1255 dt 19-04-08 of SEC also)-:)-:
a) For G.P candidate- one counting agent ifa) For G.P candidate- one counting agent if
election agent not appointed but only oneelection agent not appointed but only one
of them shall remain present at theof them shall remain present at the
counting table.counting table.

27. B) P S candidate -one counting agent forB) P S candidate -one counting agent for
each table ,there shall be no countingeach table ,there shall be no counting
agents for PROs/APROs table.agents for PROs/APROs table.
C) Z P candidate- one counting agent forC) Z P candidate- one counting agent for
each counting table and one foreach counting table and one for
PROs/APROs table in each hall assigned.PROs/APROs table in each hall assigned.
Candidate and his election agent will seatCandidate and his election agent will seat
at the PROs/APROs table and shall notat the PROs/APROs table and shall not
move around in the hall or sit along withmove around in the hall or sit along with
his counting agent at any table.his counting agent at any table.

28.  Opening of counting hall &strong room-Opening of counting hall &strong room-
one and half hours before the counting starts. Theone and half hours before the counting starts. The
candidates shall be intimated to remain present at thecandidates shall be intimated to remain present at the
pre-appointed hour. The seals of the locks shall bepre-appointed hour. The seals of the locks shall be
broken and the doors opened by the RO inbroken and the doors opened by the RO in presencepresence ofof
the candidates attending at the appointed hour.the candidates attending at the appointed hour.
 Entries to the counting premises shall be regulated byEntries to the counting premises shall be regulated by
the security personnel under the direction of thethe security personnel under the direction of the
Returning Officer .Returning Officer .
 No one shall also be allowed to enter the premises untilNo one shall also be allowed to enter the premises until
a little before the appointed time.a little before the appointed time.
 Any unusual gathering in or around the premises or justAny unusual gathering in or around the premises or just
outside the gate should not be allowed.outside the gate should not be allowed.