"Bve-Election, 2021" / "Bv E-Mail/Post"

"Top P rioritv"
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, TELANGANA
5th Floor, North Block, Buddha Bhavan, Secunderabad - 03
Memo No.181/Elecs.D/2020- 82. Dated:06.04.2021.
Sub:- Elections - Bye Elections to the TSLA from 87- Nagarjuna Sagar AC
Appointment of Election Agent, Polling Agent or their substitution
-
by relief agents and Counting Agents Election Commission of
lndia instructions -
Communicated Reg.
-
-
Ref:- 1 . ECl, Lr. No.464/INST 1201 41EPS, dated: 01 .04.201 4
2. ECl, Lr.No.76/2014/SDR, dt: 08.04.2014.
3. EC l, Lr. No.464 linsU201 4-EPS, dated : 4.5.201 4.
4. ECl, Lr.No.364/lNSTi2O1 4/EPS, dated: 5.5.201 4.
5. ECl, Lr. No.464/INST/2021IEPS, dated: 18.03.2021.
-: o0o:-
The attention of the Dist. Election Officer, Nalgonda and the Returning
Officer for 87- Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency is invited to the
references cited, the ECI had issued detailed instructions regarding
appointment of Election Agent, Polling Agent and Counting Agents.
Election Aqent
Under Section 40 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every
candidate at an election is entitled to appoint a person as his/her Election
Agent. The appointment of Election Agent is to be made in Form 8 appended
to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 in the manner mentioned in Rule 12 of
the said Rules. The Election Agent so appointed can perform all functions
mentioned in the R.P. Act, 1951 on behalf of candidate.
Any person who is disqualified under the constitution or under the
Representation of People Act, 1951, for being a member of either House of
Parliament or either house of the Legislature of a State or for voting at
elections shall, so long as the disqualification subsists, be disqualified for
being an election agent at any election (vide para 5.26.3 of HBRO 2019)
The Commission has instructed that the Ministers of the Union or States and
MP, MLA, MLCs and any other person provided with security cover by the
State shall not be appointed as election agents (and also for polling and
counting agents). No person with security cover can be allowed to surrender
the security cover to enable him to become an election agent. (vide para
5.26.4 ot HB RO 2019).
Every candidate is also permitted to appoint an additional election agent for
assisting the candidate in various expenditure related matters- This additional
agent would be for the purpose of performing only the non-statutory duties
relating to expenditure monitoring matters. The statutory duties, the election
agent is authorized to perform on behalf of the candidate can he performed
only by the election agent appointed under Section 40 of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951 read with Rule 12 of the Conduct of Elections Rules,
1 961 .(Para5.26.5 of Hand Book for ROs.)

Cont....P.[2]
 ii2ii
A candidate may revoke the appointment of election agent at any time by a
letter in Form 9, which is to be lodged with Returning Officer in order to take effect.
lf an election agent's appointment has been revoked or if he dies, the candidate
may appoint another election agent in his place. (Para 5.27.1 of Hand Book for
ROs.)
ln order to prevent any malpractices at polling stations by unscrupulous
persons pretending to be polling agents appointed by the candidates or their
election agents, Returning Officer should obtain and circulate the specimen
signatures of the candidates and their election agents to each Presiding Officer in
the proforma as given in Annexure 21, so that the Presiding Officers are in a
position to verify the signatures of candidates / their election agents on any form or
document presented on their behalf. (Para 5.28.1 of Hand Book for ROs.)
Pollinq Aqent
The appointment of a polling agent can be made either by the candidate
himself or by election agent, and by no one else. The appointment has to be made
by a letter of appointment in the Form 10 and signed by the person making the
appointment i.e., by the election agent or the candidate. The polling agent should
sign his/her letter of appointment in the presence of the candidate or his election
agent. Such letter of appointment shall be handed over to the polling agent for
production in original at the polling station, so that the Presiding Officer may admit
him into the polling station. The polling agent shall have to sign again in the
presence of the Presiding Officer at the polling station (7.1 of HB for Polling
Agent).
lf any candidate and / or his election agent refuse(s) to affix specimen
signature on the format (Appendix-1A), the Presiding Officer may not entertain any
appointment letter in Form 10 from the polling agents appointed by him where the
Presiding Officer is in reasonable doubt as to the genuineness of the signature of
the candidate or his election agent, whose specimen signature is not available in
the prescribed format (Appendix-lA) (7.2 of HB for Polling Agent).
ln the reference 3rd cited, the Election Commission of lndia has directed that
with a view to ensure that the polling agents are properly facilitated to keep effective
watch on poll process. Apart from compliance to the existing instructions such as
taking signature of the polling agents in the mock-poll certificates, declarations at
the start of poll and end of the poll etc., as mentioned in Chapter XVI of Presiding
Officers Handbook, the following shall be ensured.
(a) A "polling agents/relieving agents movement sheet" should be provided to
each polling station, in which each and every polling agent shall be required
to sign indicating the time at which he/she came to the polling station and
also when left the polling station. This sheet shall be handed over after poll
al the EVM reception center along with other documents. The observer,
Sector Magistrate, Senior officers who visit the polling station during the
course of poll shall also ensure that the aforesaid sheet is being properly
ma inta ined.
(b) The Telephone Nos. of ROs/AROs/Key Police Officers/ Sector
Off icers/Control Rooms shall be displayed at the polling stations so that if
polling agents have any complaint they can call them for immediate
intervention.
Cont....P.[3]
 ::3::
(c) Any complaint received from polling agents at any level shall be inquired
immediately The RO/Observer shall also scrutinize the documents
related to such polling stations carefully and record their views
specifically.
(d) All the Micro-observers along with their reports shall be present at the
time of Scrutiny of Form 17A and related documents. This is necessary
so that the .Observers can take their inputs, if required, in conduct of
scrutiny.

Section 46 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read with Rule 13
of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 provides that at every election, each
candidate or his election agent can appoint one polling agent and two relief polling
agents at each polling station. The Commission in the past had issued guidelines
on various respects of appointment of polling agent. All these instructions relating
to Polling Agents have been incorporated in Hand Book for Polling Agents. ECI in
its latest instructions based on the inputs and for the convenience of the
candidates. it has directe d that if anv contestinq candidate is not able to find
o llin a ent in the same o llin station or nei hborin ollin stations
he/she mav appoint an y elector of the same assemblv constituency as their
D ollin o a ent for their D ollinq station .Such polling agents must have Elector
Photo ldentity Card or any other recognized identification device issued by the
Government or any Government agency which bears his / her identity.
No person in the service of the Government can act as a polling agent of a
candidate (Section 134-A of the R.P. Act, 1951). lf he does so, he is punishable
with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to 3 months or with fine or with
both (Para 9.2 of HB for Polling Agent)
A minister of a government or any other person who has been given security
cover at state expense is not allowed to function as a polling agent, as he can
neither be allowed to enter the polling station'along with his security personnel nor
can his security be compromised by allowing him to enter the polling station without
security cover. The security personnel accompanying [/inisters or political
functionaries shall not be allowed entry inside the polling station. They can stand
waiting at the door of the polling station but shall not identify the voters or check
their EPICs or other alternative documents of identification during this period.(9.3
of HB for Polling Agent)
Counting Aqent
Each candidate should be allowed to appoint as many counting agents as the
number of counting tables and one more to watch the counting at the RO table. The
RO should inform the candidates about the total number of counting agents they are
entitled to appoint. The counting agents are required, under law, to be appointed in
Form-18. Any request on a plain paper received from the ca nd id ate/e lection agent
should not be accepted. Declaration of counting agents in Form-18 is to be signed
by them in the presence of the RO. A candidate can also appoint one more counting
agent to attend the counting of postal ballot papers as the place fixed for the
purpose by the RO (para 15.12.1 of FIB RO 2019).

Cont....P.[4]
 :i4ii
The RO should obtain a list of counting agents in form-18 (in duplicate) with
their photographs from all the contesting candidates by 1700 hours on the day three
days prior to the date fixed for counting of votes. RO shall prepare the photo identity
cards of the counting agents then and there under his seal and signature and
should be issued to the contesting candidates and obtain acknowledgement thereof
along with second copy of form-18. Each counting agent may have a badge
indicating whose agent he is and the serial number of the table at which he will
observe the counting. Each counting agent should aff ix his signature in full on the
badge immediately after issued to him. (para 15.12.2 of HB RO 2019).
The Security personnel are not allowed to enter the counting hall as per
standing instructions of the Election Commission, the following persons cannot be
appointed as Counting Agent cf a Candidate during an election:
(a) Any sitting lVlinister Union Government
(b) Any sitting Minister of State Government
(c) Sitting Member of Parliament
(d) Sitting Member of Legislative Assembly/Legislative Council
(e) Chief/Head/Chairperson of Urban Local Bodies, viz Mayor of a
Corporation, Chairperson of Municipality/ Nagar Panchayat.
(f) Chairperson of District level "Lila Parishad/ Block level Panchayat
Samiti.
(S) Elected Chairpersons of National / State/ District co-operative
institutions
(h) Political functionaries appointed as Chairpersons of Central PSUs /
State PSUs, Chairperson of Government bodies, Government
Pleader / Additional Government Pleader
(i) Any Government Servant

The Returning Officer is further informed that in the reference 1"t cited, the
Election Commission of lndia while referring their letters No.464/INST/2008/EPS,
daled. 14.10.2008 & No.464llNSTi2009/EPS, dated:25.04.2009 has instructed that
any sitting [\/inister either of Union Government or of a State Government, sitting
Member of Parliament, sitting Member of Legislative Assembly/ Legislative
Council, lvlayor of a Corporation or Chairperson of Municipalityl Zilla Parishad/
Panchayat Union etc. will not be allowed to act as Election Agent, Polling Agent or
Counting Agent of any candidate during an election, irrespective of whether he/she
is provided with security or not or anything else in order to ensure maintenance of
a level playing field and prevent undue influence on the election process for
effective implementation of the guidelines issued by the Commission to follow the
model code of cond uct.
A Government servant also cannot act as a counting agent of a candidate
(Section 'l 34-A of the R.P. Act. 1951). lf he so acts, he is punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 months or with fine or with both.

C ont. . .. P. [5]
 ::5::
ECI in its latest guidelines for conduct of Bye-Elections during COVID-19, has
instructed that "lf polling agent or counting agent is having temperature above the
prescribed limit, then their reliever shall be allowed by Presiding Officer, who will
keep a record accordingly."
The District Election Officer, Nalgonda is therefore, requested to bring the
above instructions to the notice of the Returning Officer, B7-Nagarjuna Sagar AC
and Assistant Returning Officers / Sector Officers and Presiding Officers. The
above instructions are not exhaustive for detailed instructions, the Hand Book for
Returning Officers, Manual on Polling Stations (2016), Hand Books for Polling
Agent & Counting Agents and other Hand Books, Broad Guidelines for Conduct of
Bye-Elections during COVID-19 and latest instructions of the Election Commission
of lndia issued from time to time, should be referred and followed scrupulously.
DT. SHASHANK GOEL,
CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER &
E.O. SPL. CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
To
The Collector & DEO, Nalgonda, (w.es)
Copy to :-
The Returning Officer, 87-Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency. (w.es)
SLA, Telangana (with a request to upload on CEO website) (w.es)
//FORWARDED:: BY ORDER//

SE ON OFFICER
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I
i. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NIRVASHAN SAOAN. ASHOKA ROAO, NEW DELI']I'11OOO1
I Datcd:- I April. 20 l4
No. 481{NSTr20ta/E PS
it
Td
.i
Thq Chicf EIcctoral Oflicers'
'i
L of all $ates/lJf s

j
Srb: Prohibldon of Appointment 0f sittirg Ministcri MPMLA/MLC os Election
A'gcnt, Po[tng Agent or Countlng A]gent - Clnrificadon regardlng'

Sir/lvlldBm'
lcttcr No'
l'am dtrcctrd o rofcr to.ttrq Coooiscioals Instuctions commrinicatcd vidc
and (o statc thlr lhc
464/INSInO08EPS, .dErcd 14.10.2008, oq the sub.iccr cited abovc'
Commission has prchibilcd any sitting Ministcr cithcr
of Union Covernment or of a Siatc

Oovcrnmart" sitting Membcr of Prrlismcnr' si(ing V{cmbct o[ Lcgislative '\sse$hl! ]

Lrgislaiiw Gounoil or aly other person havidg sDcurity corcr provided by tlrc State tt'oth

union and sBte Govts.) to act as Eleciion Agent, Palling ABchl oI countinS Agcnt of an!
prson having
candidao during an clcction in vicw tif thcir security cover' Funbcr' ary
such agcnt of a
sixurily, .co\rcr is oot alloYred to sunsndd his sccurhy coYcr to act as
cahilidae duiing lin.clccrion keepiug in vicw tbttt any untowald' incidcnt involvilS
ttlerD nray

pcaceful clcction'
havc stdotg.IepercursioDs in thc eonductof&cr, fair aod

.t- I}i.thc eilil.irsalctions, it ls also,statcd thA if an MP, MLA/MLC

oI a sitrioS, Minisrcr

acts 8s dt agcot of a csndi&tc that would not bc desirablc ftom &e point of view of

mainuining thc level ptaying Ecld during an clcotion aPan fitm their sccuritv bcing

compromiscd..

Furthcr, thc Commission' vidc i1s instruclion No' 464/NSTi2009/llPS

dared
l-
1L5.04.2&9, extendcd the s;id m Mayor of Corporation' ChAirmln ni
Fohibitian
'o /rrr3c nutntt:r ";
Mruicip8lity/Zls Parishadfanchayat Union, ctc also' shtiog thht
employeeS of local auhoriix are deployed on
election'dt:l T herciore tt tltt.tttt tr
Union ctc ccitng ';:
Corporation or Chairman of Munlctpalityzila Porlshad/Panchayat
arent for a canciiCate will be lmproper ond would be coalroty to lhc spirit oj level nlat trtg

JlcA"
4.IIIt}u:gconncctioD'aclarificatioohasbegosoughtbythcCEo,Puduchcnyas:c
whctlcr asitting Ml.r"{tajya Sabha MP without security cover bc sllowed to be sppointcd rs
 \

ElectiorlPoltinly'Cou0tiitg A.gcnr as li.coutd bd idttrrd..6rr,p&tittr?

Ji lorro"ua,, ao.,..
rvill not be covercd uodlr tlrc abovc instrucdons.

5. Tlre Commi-ssion, kecping ir view all thc rtlcvanr fscto!6 ih:this rlgard; hl.s deided
that an1, siuing Mioisrcr cjthcr of qf .8 ffS& @*rf*nanr, eining
Uni,on Gor.trnmenr or
Mernber of Prrliamen. sirring Mernber of Lgiels0yr A.scmbly/l*gistaliVc-guncil, iiJayor
ofa Corporadol or Cbairpersoa oii{unlcipdlilylZih.p{rilhaUrrnlheyif.OEion, ac...wt}l nar
be allorved ro act as Elocrio,r Agcnr, pollirg egcot or Couirtfu Atg* 6f,!:oy cs[&datc
during an clcction, inespccrivc of whe$m.hd-rLc pmrt&d rfi&Fco.ryily
iS lfa&o,rflging
else, in odcr lo cntur! mdint.mtrd.of i:ideU, pl$ij!$)ftl(} &itlinffi!{rdp*i[ft$qco on
lhc clcctioe proccsr! fgr cfft,liv! intDl.$fiitinbfl df qS. gtddtfriEs ,is*r{$ by rhc
Comurission, o follow rhe Modcl Codc ofCordust:

6. this may .bp ,breught ro r& ,aqdco of dl cqoccocd, ds_tt cid& frr qoeplience !y thc
cadidatcs *hrle &cy appeint such agErts to \yatch thsj, intr..ats dqling
4i.daqtio4_

Yours faithfully,

SECRETANY
 I r-,l,LlliU.
. 1.,-.: '1 , SLECTIOI{cod MISSICN OF t {NDIA
l0 t)01
clre n 0n(l i\u11' Dclh i-
lr,ic,l. S nl, l0l ,l
6n014:rSDR
; : 1, .

Tho Clriof Blcctoral Omcer$of ,, ''

all Sl0tes ond Union
'feffiloti6s

Subject - APpttidmcut of Election Aggt-ng8{dl0g'

'sLMadarn, . .. ,' ,:,; r.rr. j.

gndai Scgtio1.4o'of the..RapEs$ldion'of thc Peoplc Act' l95l' eYery ctndidatc at an

dc€-tion b cntitl.d to dPpoinr a Person a3'\i*$r.El€ction A3cnt' Thc appoirtmcnl of Elecllon

Aganl is to bc madc io Form 8 spPcndcd to the Conducl of Elecrion Rulcs' l96i in thc

qqnncr.mentioncrl in Rulc l2 of rhc said Rulc't' Thc Elcctiofi Agcnt so aPPointcd can Fctlb'nr

rll firnctions tlcntioncd in the l95l Act on behalfof Lhe candidalc'

The Commission has alloived appoinrins on rrltlitional ugcnl for assilling

lhc
2.
(vrdc lclter
candiaao: tbr closcr an<l bcltcr monitoriug of thc clecljon expclrses
n(''

76,20i I/SDR dal.d l8'r' March. 20i I )

l. lt h norv becn brought lo lhe noticc oflhe Comoission thot Candidatcs of largc

(listricl arc lin(linP

Psrliamcntary Cqnstituencics spreud ovcr thc enlirc Slale or more than one
it difrlcult to moniror the proccss of cLcction ir tlu erltirc parliamemary constilucrlcy wilh
genuint difficulty
onty onl Elcction Agctlt psmiltcd undcr thc law. Taking inlo ac4ornl thc

expresscd by thc Candidaas, thc Conmission has dccidcd to permir appointmcnt of

"Autboisrd Nomirccs" in addidon to thc ElcctioIt Age such
lAutborisid Nominecs' will

rcpresent the candidatcs foi nrccting \vith

!9! hs.,l lhe lcSal.status of Elcction Ag'nt btlt may
perform non'$atutory fuirclions on behalf of the candidrlc Thc number
of
omcldls ood may
such AutborisEd Nom;""g5 shall nol be moic ilrsn the nlmbcr of Asscmbl,' segnrenls rn the

ParliarDeni Corslituency' and in the cssc cf smaller Stalcs wilh onc or Iwo Porliamentnr!

Constinrcncics, thc numbcr of Avrhodsed Noninccs shal) nol

be more than the number of
bc issued
districg fallingin dre Pariiascntary Ccnsnruer'c)' i'he Aulhorised Nominccs inay
by thc candidate upto thc cnd
vehiclcpermit lor the p&'ticiiiar aren lcr which he is nominatcd
on the vchicles trstri by thc
of the c$paign perjoti. Necdlcss io ncr(ioil ihal the cxDcnditulc
.Autboriscd NomiJlce' shall be booked lo tht accounl of election expenscs of thc candidrlc'
I is enclosed herewilh'
I A foroat for sppoinrrocnl of'Aulhorised Nominec'
 .1. All rl1< crlnr{iioris lirill
ol' tlrc RgFyq5!6to1ieri ot .the .?cuplcq,
Acl. l9i I lb. anPointurerlr
gcnrrxl prohihirion rElirts(igIoilllihg
[1in
ol Ntrnicipalhy/ Zilia parisfud. us
lny agEnt for o qindidate..
Nonin*.
5. For hciliry of refcrcncc. rhc
functioni thi( can bc pcrforocrl by du
Election Agcnt is encltrscd. i.he Au(hor;scd
Nomrtucs ar. !9! authorised lo..pqdorar
thcs.
srautory funoions.

6. Thcsc insrrucrious ,,rly U. UOir!6i to thc noricc of all Disrricr Elcctiqn

dlfien.
Rclurning Ofliccr.s and othcr elcction
oflisials in thc Star.s. This shorrld ajso bc broughr
ro
tltc norice ofall lhc polirical psrtics.besld.ir.th!
Surc incllrdlng rhc SGrc.Uoilr of rcco8niscd
Nadonol PartieS and Satc panicsoibth sddcs:

Youn

. Priacipql Sccrctary
 Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Dclhi- l I0 001.
No 46alINST20l+EPS Dated: 4'h Msy, 2014

To

Tbo Cbief Elcctorat Officco of

l. Ardbn Pradcab, Hydcrabed

2 Bibar, Pata
3. Hin.chal Pndcsll Shimla
4. ,aEEu md Krshmh Srl nagar
5. Uttu Pndah, Luqlnow
6. Uttankhad, Dohradun
?. Wcd B.ngd, Kolklra

Sob: GGlsral Eloetlo[, to Lok Sabba, 20f1 -Trackhg of prtsonc+ of pollhg Ageot! - reg.

Refi Commisslcr'e let*ry dated 1?h October, 2007.

n,A

Sb / MldaD,

I rD dhected to lnvtt yonr attrntlcn to the above referred directionc of the

Commlsdon mal to atate that wlth a vlew to ensure that the polling ag€nB are properly
fadUtahd to keep dfuc.tlve wakh on po[ pmcess, the Commigeioa l8aue, the followirg
dlrecdons:-

Apart froril coEplisnce to ihc existing lnskuctions such as taking signafure of the
pollir8 a6ea*t in the mock-poll csrtificlte8, declarationi at the srart of poll and end of
poU eic ar mcndoned tn chapter XVI of Preaidlng Officers Handbook;

1. A'potltng agen!/relievirrg agents movement 6heet,, should be provided to each

polltng Etado& ln whlch each and every poUirrt atent shall be required to sign
tndrcltlng the time at whlclr he/ahe came to the pollhg station and aleo when left
the polllng ataH.on.Thla eheet ehall be handed over after poll at the EM!{ reception
c€ntE dong wlth other doermsnts. The observet, Sector Maglatrate, Senior
officcra who vidt Ate polltng etation during the course of poll ahall a.lso ensure
that the aforesrtd gheet ls belng propedy malatained. A aample .polling
ageng/reliet lng agent8 moveEent ahed" ls erclosed.
 !. The Tdrphone noe, of ROdAROy'Key Police Officerd Sector Offlcerd Cont'ol
Roomr sball be dbplayed at the polling etatiom ao that if polllng agentr have any
coarplalnt lhcy can call them far huocdlate lntefl'ention.

3. Aay eomplainl recdvcd from polllng agents at any level ehall be hquired
lmarcdlrtely, Tha RO/Obrerc€r ahall rlso acrudrrlzc the docqments rehted to Euch
pollhg rtedcnr carefutry and record tftctr vterc epectfically,

4 All the Mlcro-obcerrs aloagwlth thclr repotts shalt be pteseat at thc tlme of
Scnrlllly of PoEl 17A md r.htrd doctt.n! s. Thls ir nec!8$ry so that the
'Obst'?sr3 ct6lrk! thctr hguB, lf nquked, lo conduc of rcrndry.
5, Khdly lnfonr dl conctrned tndudtng the candldates so that tfiey can properly
t coov'ry thb to thch polllnt rgc?L
li
t;
r
ir
Yours tuhhfuily,
I

It Mukherjee)
Sccretary
 ?oUtrg a8enEheuevltrg agenb mov€ment

d!,!4d drIt-d 8!!!!.d uaErd-E&r I

rotd I
sL!,btr!
eand ..iruar Sdlrsl al& ldd l

&@& h4 6Jerrlr
ritr!ts
---- E _
 ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NIRVACHAN SADAN. ASHOKA ROAD. NEW DELHI-1 1OOOl

No. 464|INST20l4l?PS Dated:- 5' May, 2014

To
Thc ehidElcsloral Offi cers,
ofal StctrYUTs.
Sub: Presoncc of polllng ageDtr or thelr substitutlon by rellef rgcnls inside a polling
!trtion -regrrdinB.

Slrl]Uadsm,
I am dircered to gtatc that Scction 46 of tbc Rcprcseotation of the Peoplc Acl, l9j I.

rcgd with Rule )3 of thc Conduct of Elcctions Rules, 1961 provides that at ever-'- clcctror).

cach candidatc or his clcction aBcot csD appoint onc polliug agent and two rclicf polling

sgcnB 8t clch lnllinS ststiotr. The Commission in the pas had issucd guidclines on various
asper*s of sppoitrtnalt of polling 8gcot.

2. All thesc ilstuctions rclating to polling agmts have bccn itrcorPorated in Handbook
for Polling Agcnrs. As regarG thc preseocc of polliog Bgent or his rclief agens insidc a

polling stalionr at a timc, it hss bcen Fovidcd in Para 6 of the Handbook for Polling Agcnts

tha\ "Only on of them can, howevcr, remtln present lnside the polling station at o rime.

They can relleve cach other from time lo time. Any rellef agent can takc the place o/ the
polling agent whotever he goes oul. Wicheter of them is inside the Polling slatian is be oted
ot polllng age of he candidote for the lime being ond hos lhe same rights and
responsibilities os given to thc polliag agenl by la\'t,. " [t is furt]rer stated that ... Howev'et no

polling agent Shdl he allowed to leqve the Polllng sl6tion or allo\aed suhstituting rhemstivcs
by thet reltevbrg agents a$er 3.04 p.m"
3. In thc abovc purvicw, it has bcco brought to the noticc of thc Commission that the
polling agetrts are not &llowcd lo leave thc polliRg stalions afier 3.00 p.m. evcn to altend ihc
calls of naturc. In this conne.ction, it is clarificd that the spirit of the instruction was io ensuru

that lhe polling agcnrs should rcmain PreseDt in the polling station till the voting is ovei as

they iave io o!'erscc the cciling proccdurc ofEVMs and sign thc dcclaration, clc

4. In vlsw of the sbovg lt h clsrillcd thrt the polling agent! may bc sllolved to go

out of lhe polllnS ltstions wcn arlor 3.00 p.m. to att Dd thc nature's calls, ctc. and come
bsck lDslde &e pollhg rtttlon. Ilorever, ll may,tre ensurcd thal only the polling aBcnt

or hi! substitue can bc prelent iuido the polling ststion 8t a tims.

5. lr is reitemted rhst qc.
to rcqqi!
prcscnt in thc polliag s61ion tiI OfEIF;
8nd sign ths dccJaradol, etc.

6. Apart froru this iostruction, tho

regarding the tmcking of ple$€Dce of
ageot/rellcvlug egctlb Dovolrrnt rha.l, sbould
Officcrs for submitting ficir rcpoIb, in rhe
4s May, 2014.

'7. All thcsc new instructions may bc bm.{5t o thc noticc oncr agail lt tbc.t'rno of
dcspatch olthe polling parrics and thc Sccror Offiir*.sball sbo bo briaH$cadlASiy.

'Yo

tt !a!r
 FORMAl'F()R APP()lN'l lNGAt., lll(rRlSF.D \(li\liNtrt: I() .\SsiS l
ELECTION ACtlNl
'r'.:,:.',.
(F6ltl5r{ctrenlib:,c clertron ......,. . (n)(rrri(u rhc }cJr)

l. Namc ofthc Srntc: -

2. N!.fie of $e Plrlianurtlry (irutitucncy: .

,1.. N.m0c 6M Aditrlss ofrhc iddidiire, -

4. Porty Affiliatlon, ilony: -

5. l.kmc of the Artloriscd NQrilincc*..

6. Namc of Arsembly St8nrcitt/D,.iiiiel fdri,ohlcl sppotntcd: .

FuIl Postal Addics ofrhc krnhotiied Nomioce, -

Cootaot Tdsphonc Nu6bcli -

-.,...... (mcniion rhe name of rhc csndidarc) do hcrcb)

sppoint Shri/Sml-iMs ....... . &s my Authoriscd Nominec lbr rhc shovc

election for thc Asscmbly ScgmcntyDistrici mentioocd abol,c I hcrcby dcclare thar hc/shc is

oot dhquallficd.Ioder &c larv for;hcing ahoscn ls, srd for bging, a mcmbcr of padiamcnr or

Statc Lgillsturc md that the $ia porssn- is .not a Minisrcr/Mp/1,{LA./MlC/Corporarion

Mayor/Chairman of Municipality/Zila Prrishad aad is nor a pcrson ro whom sccurity covcr

ha b*o pravlded by thc Srlre

Signa!urc of lhc Candidrte

Place.

W Date
.5r ill ll {()!-\ lrllc(i ri llttll (ir n hr tlcrf{D' ntr(l by ll( irlectirrn.\l ellI it)t,tlitr ,.rI lrr
lhc C:andidnte n(lcr Srctiop of tlrf.8gprcre0 trrion peoplo Acr. l gSl
-ot thc
u

L Citn ;lrrend scnrliny progce(ling! (SBclion l6)

2. Can subnrir rhe Notice of rvithdrawal of candidalure (signed by l,lle
candidate in Fonn 5) befon rh€ Rctuming Officcr, alongwith.ii alrhoriry
lener fi orn thc candidlt! (Section 3?),

3. AppoiBmrnr ofPollirg AlerE (Sestlon,46)r

4. A?poinrmefi of Couqdnsd*rots.(Qrg!.oa,1z), . . :
5, Revoqalion of spnq_r$qry ($eqtotr 46),
**.1lrrq*g€o1,qtg+€.ql
6. ,ttrlnd0rtc! amfpcrfolearicco$iil tunciioos oto qqrdiotir; iiiiiton 501
7. Authoriscd to entcr polliag striSibns (Rulc 49D of'tlre Condud oiElettions
tuIcs, 1961),

8. Authorised to be present io re counting hall (Rulo 5l of the Conduct of

Elccrions Rules, i96l ),

9. Applying tbr re-coun1 ofvotes. il thc absencc of rhe cardidate rile couotiDg

hali (Rule 61 ofthe Conduct gfglections Rrrlcs, 't961),

I 0. Authodsed 10 fiai uin tecduiiPtif cl{odon expcrues of &e,ei6didlle ondcr
Secrioll.??( I ) ofthc Rcprosentstion-ofth9 People AcL 195 l.

W
 qrtf, ffiTq oTrd{r
ELECTION COMMISSION OF IIYDIA
Tel: 011-23052246 hdq-{ffqn,
F.x 011'23052001 !{,!hqitr5, qg fqd-1rco{.,
WebsitE: www,eci.qov.in NiMadlarsadan.
Ashoka aoad, New 0e1hi"110001.

No.464liNST/2021l EPS Dated: 18s Matcb 2O21

To
The Chief Electoral Olficers of,
All the States/UTs.

SubJect: Appolntment of Pollhg Ageate-regerdlng.

Reference: 1. 464 / INSI / 2O06-PLN-I dated 07.O4.2006
2. 464 IINST /2O07-PLN-I dated 12.1O.2OO7
3. 464 I INST I 2008/EPS dated 14. 10.2008
4. 464 / INST I 2009/ EPS dated 25.o4.2009
5. 4641 INST/2O14lPPS dated 0 1.04.20 14
Sir/Madam,
The Section 46 ot the Representation of the People Act, 1951' read r.vith
rule 13 of the Conduct oI Elections Rules, 1961 provides that at every election each
candidate or his election agent can appoint one polling agent and two relief polling
agents at each polling station'
2. The para I of the Commissions instruction no. 464/INST/2009/EPS
dated 10.03.2009 provided that the Polling agents who are appointed by the
contesting candidates shall be elector in the same polling booth, or in the
alternative ffom the neighboring polling stations falling in the same constituency,
for which elections are being conducted'
3. However, based on the inputs and for the convenience of the candidates, the
commission has directed that if any contesting candidate is not able to find polling
agent in the same polling station or neighboring polling stations, helshe may
appoint any elector of the same assembly constituenry as their polling agents for
their polling station.
4. Other Provisions regarding appointment of polling agent will remain same
as per the Commission's extant instruction'
A11 political parlies and contesting candidate may tre informed accordingly'

Yours faithfully,

(SAI{JEDV KI'MAR PRASADI

UNDER SECRETARY