Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued a letter to all Collectors clarifying the rules regarding the validity of votes polled during Panchayat elections at the time of counting at block headquarters.
In the letter written to all district Collectors by Secretary to SEC, RN Sahu it has been stated that a Ballot Paper is liable for rejection if votes are recorded in favour of more than one candidate in the fray for the election.
However, even if the voter has recorded his vote against one contesting candidate and another against a symbol that has been pre-folded before, the intention of the voter is clear and the same cannot be considered as recording vote in favour of more than one candidate, the letter clarified.
The letter has further clarified that votes recorded in favour of the contesting shall be considered, provided it is not otherwise invalid.
The SEC’s clarification came in the wake of several queries received by the Commission regarding the validity of the Ballot Paper when a voter has recorded his vote in the pre-fold portion and another vote against one of the contesting candidates.
