Power to make rules regulating elections

Power to make rules regulating elections. –

1. (1) The Government may, by notification, make rules generally to provide for or to regulate matters in respect of elections to be held under this Act.
2. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: --
   • (a) maintenance of the electoral rolls and their publications;
   • (b) notification of the elections;
   • (c) administrative machinery for the conduct of elections;
   • (d) the nominations of candidates, form of nomination paper, objections to nomination, scrutiny of nominations;
   • (e) the deposits to be made by candidates and circumstances under which deposits may be refunded to candidates or forfeited to the village panchayats;
   • (f) the assignment of symbols to candidates;
   • (g) the withdrawal of candidature;
   • (h) the appointment of agents of candidates;
     • (i) the form of ballot paper;
   • (j) the procedure in contested and uncontested elections;
   • (k) the steps to be taken to prevent impersonation of voters;
   • (l) the manner of recording votes; +[(ll) the manner of giving and recording votes by means of voting machines and the procedure as to voting to be followed at polling stations where such machines are used];
   • (m) the procedure to be followed in respect of challenged votes and tendered votes; +[(mm) the procedure as to counting of votes recorded by means of voting machines];
   • (n) the scrutiny of votes, counting or recounting of votes, declaration of results and procedure in case of equality of votes;
   • (o) the custody and disposal of papers relating to elections;
   • (p) the circumstances in which poll may be suspended or held afresh;
   • (q) appointment of election tribunal, procedure for filing election petitions including deposit of security and costs of election petition;
   • (r) any other matter relating to elections which is to be or may be prescribed under this Act.