Some Step by Step Duties of Presiding Officers

(Disclaimer: This is only an unofficial help to Presiding Officers based on my experience,

and nothing more and never claims to be comprehensive. There may be mistakes.
Mistake, if any, is deeply regretted. There are many many more things that Presiding
Officers should know. Presiding officers need to read their Handbook provided by ECI
and attend training sessions and know and follow all the instruction of ECI.)

1) In DCRC check the EVM, if it is functioning properly, if battery high or low, check if time
is correct
2) If it is meant for your polling station, properly sealed,
3) Check if you have received indelible ink, distinguishing mark, metal seal, Form 17A,
voters slip, Form 17 C, Entry pass, movement sheet, mock poll certificate, pro diary,
declaration by the pro, tendered ballot papers, M21,
4) On P-1 day put Distinguishing Mark on all forms, covers, 17A Register, Voters Slip etc.
5) Put your signature wherever necessary in the Forms and covers or 17A Register
6) Fill in the forms and covers as far as possible
On Poll day
1) Collect Form 10 from the polling agents
2) Get them to sign Form 10 in your presence
3) Issue an entry pass for each polling agent
4) Get them to sign the Account of Entry Pass for Polling Agents
5) Show the polling agents that the EVM does not contain any vote.
6) Start a mock poll. Let the polling agents cast votes in favour of their candidates
7) Cast
8) Keep a record of how many votes have been cast.
votes for all the candidates and NOTA.
9) Press close button after
10) Press Result button and show the polling agents that the result tallies with the record
kept
50 votes have been cast
11) Clear the Mock Poll results
12) Prepare 3 mock poll certificates.
by pressing the clear button.
13) Get the
14) Put the
polling agents to sign the mock poll certificates
switch in the rear compartment of the Control Unit to
15) Take out a Green Paper Seal,
Off position.


16) Note down the serial number of the Green Paper Seal
17) Sign below the serial number of the Green Paper Seal.
18) Take polling agents signature in Green Paper Seal.
19) Insert the Green Paper Seal in the frame of the inner compartment of the Result section
of B.U. and keep two ends of Green Paper Seal protruding.
20) Close the inner door of the Result section of the Ballot Unit. With a strong twine thread
tie a knot at the two holes of the inner door.
21) Take out a Special Tag.
22) Write the serial number of the Control Unit on the Special Tag.
23) Put your signature and take agents signature on the back of the Special Tag
24) Note down the serial number of the Special Tag.
25) Seal the special tag with presiding officers metal seal outside the machine
26) Put the Special Tag on the Closed Button.
27) Close the outer cover of the Result Section of Control Unit.
28) Insert a thread through the two holes at the outer cover and seal the outer cover with
an address tag using presiding officers metal seal.
29) Fill up the details in the Address Tag
30) Seal the Result section of the BU with a Strip Seal.
31) Sign on Strip Seal and take polling agents signature on Strip Seal
32) Note down the serial number of the Strip Seal.
33) Fill in the
34) Get the
Part I of Presiding Officers Declaration
35)
polling agents to sign the part I of Presiding Officers Declaration
Deliver one copy of the Mock Poll Certificate to the Sector officer
36) Switch on the EVM and start the poll
.
36) (i) Tell the 1st Polling Officer to keep a record of the number Male voters and Female
Voters.


37) Press Total Button to see total number of votes at 09:00 A.M., 11 A.M., 01:00 P.M.,
03:00 P.M., 06:00 P.M. and note these totals and total number of male and female voters in
bi-hourly report and Presiding Officers Diary.
38) Maintain the Visit Sheet by obtaining signatures and comments from the visitors
39) Maintain Polling Agent / Reliever Agent Attendance Sheet
40) Keep filling the forms as information becomes available.
41) At the close of poll make sure there are no more voters remaining.
42) Press the Close button of the CU in presence of the agents
43) Note down the total number of votes polled
44) Fill up Form 17C Part I
45) Get the signatures of polling agents in Form 17C Part I
46) Provide each of the polling agents with an attested copy of Form 17C.
47) Fill up Part III of Presiding Officers Diary Part III
48) Get the signatures of polling agents in Presiding Officers Diary Part III
49) Put the BU and CU of the EVM in their respective carrying cases and seal the carrying
cases.
50) Fill up Part IV of Presiding Officers Diary.
51) Get the agents to sign the Part IV of Presiding Officers Diary
52) Fill up the Presiding Officers Diary
53) Fill up 16 Point additional Report
54) Fill up PS 05A
55) Draw a line below the last entry in 17A Register and Write The serial number of the last
entry in 17A is and Take signatures of polling agents and sign yourself.
55) Keep the following ready in the following manner to be delivered at receiving centre:
i) 17 C ---- 1 copy unsealed, 2 copies sealed
ii) Presiding officers diary ---- 1 copy sealed, 1 copy unsealed


iii) Following documents, all unsealed n a cover: a) Visit Sheet,
b) 16 points presiding officers diary,
c) 19 point report, d) PS05A,
e) 17 A check List ---- showing if 17 A was maintained properly, answers to be given saying yes
or no.
f) Mock poll Certificate,
g) Declaration of Presiding Officer at the Commencement, during, closing and after sealing of
carrying cases,
h) Polling Agents Movement Sheet
i) Blind Voters report

56) Seal the carrying cases for B.U. and C.U.at the two holes with PROs metal seal and their
respective address tags and allow the agents to put their seal and sign the tags and you sign
yourself.
57) Put in the Statutory Cover the following materials in Sealed cover: i) Marked Copy of the
Electoral Roll (ii) Form 17A (Register of Voters) (iii) Used Voters Slips (iv) Unused Tendered
Ballot Papers, (v) Used Tendered Ballot Papers and List in 17B
58) Put in the Non-Statutory Cover: (i) (1) The sealed cover containing the copy or copies of
electoral roll (other than the marked copy)
.
(2) The sealed cover containing the appointment letters of polling Agents in Form 10
(3) The sealed cover containing the election duty certificates in Form 12 B
(4) The sealed cover containing the list of challenged Votes in Form 14
(5) The sealed cover containing the list of blind and infirm Electors in Form 14 A and the
declaration of the companion
(6) The sealed cover containing the declarations obtained from the Electors as to their age and
the list of such electors
(7) The cover containing the receipt book and cash,if any,in respect of challenged votes.
(8) The cover containing unused and damaged paper seals
(9) The cover containing unused voters slips
(10) The cover containing with unused and damaged special tags
(11) The cover containing unused and damaged strip seals