Organisation : CEO Andhra Pradesh
Announcement : Election Laws
Applicable For : Andhra Citizens
Details : http://ceoandhra.nic.in/Handbook/ElectionLaws.htm
Home Page : http://ceoandhra.nic.in/home.aspx
CEO Andhra Election Laws
** It is not possible for a candidate to be physically present at every polling station on the day of poll in an assembly or a parliamentary constituency.
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** Therefore, the law allows him to appoint polling agents to act as his representatives at every polling station to watch his interests.
** A democratic election postulates that the poll is conducted freely and fairly at every single polling station and every candidate should feel satisfied in this respect.
Role Of Polling Agents :
** The polling agents play a very important part in the actual taking of poll, which is the most vital part of the entire process of election.
** The task of Presiding Officer and Polling Officers at the polling station will be made easy and smooth if the polling agents discharge their duties within their own realm in a cooperative spirit.
** For this purpose, they should know their functions clearly and carry them out intelligently under the law.
** You are going to be a polling agent at a polling station at which electronic voting machines are going to be used.
** You should, therefore, acquaint yourself fully with the latest position about the rules and procedures prescribed for the conduct of elections through voting machines.
** You must also familiarize yourself with the operation of voting machines. For this purpose, you should attend the demonstrations of the voting machines arranged by the Returning Officer where the voting machines will be exhibited and the functioning and operation thereof demonstrated and explained.
Introduction Of Voting Machine System In Elections :
Till 1998 elections to the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies from parliamentary and assembly constituencies were being held under the traditional system of ballot papers and ballot boxes. During general elections to Legislative Assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi and bye-elections to fill some vacancies in Lok Sabha held in October-November, 1998, the Electronic Voting Machines were used for the first time in 16 selected assembly constituencies on experimental basis across Madhya Pradesh (5 ACs), Rajasthan (5 ACs) and Delhi (6 ACs), which experiment proved to be extremely successful and satisfactory.
** Thereafter Goa became the first State, where during the general election to the State Legislative Assembly held in 1999 Electronic Voting Machines were used at all the polling stations in the State.
** Since then Electronic Voting Machines are being used in all elections.
** These Electronic Voting Machines have been manufactured by two Central Government undertakings, namely, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad and Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore have produced electronic voting machines.
** The voting machines have been so designed as to keep intact all the salient features of the present system under which ballot paper and ballot boxes are used.
Main Duties Of Polling Agents :
The main duty of the polling agents is to see that the interests of the candidates who have appointed them are safeguarded at the polling stations.
Their other duties are :
(a) to help the Presiding Officer to detect and prevent impersonation of voters by challenging persons whose identity as real elector is doubtful,
(b) to help in having the voting machine properly secured and sealed according to the rules before, during and after the close of poll, and
(c) to see that all election records relating to the poll are secured and sealed properly after the close of poll as required by law.
(d) to see that the serial numbers of Control Unit and the Ballot Unit of the EVM being used in the polling station are in conformity with the details provided by the Returning Officer.