Counting of votes received by post.

(1) At the time fixed for counting of postal ballot papers, the Returning Officer shall open the covers in which the postal ballot papers have been received and examine the postal ballot papers and other papers contained in the cover: Provided that no postal ballot paper received after the expiry of the time fixed in that behalf shall be opened and no vote contained in any such cover shall he counted. (2) A postal ballot paper shall be rejected on the following grounds namely :- (a) if it bears any mark (other than the mark to record the vote) or writing by which the elector can be identified; or (b) if no vote is recorded thereon.; or (c) If votes are given on it in favour of more candidates that one ; or (d) if it is a suprious ballot paper; or (e) if it is so damaged or mutilated that its identity as a genuine ballot paper cannot be established; or (f) if it is not returned in the cover sent alongwith it to the elector by the Returning Officer. (3) A vote recorded on a postal ballot paper shall be rejected if the mark indicating the vote is placed on the ballot paper in such manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate the vote has been given. (4) A vote recorded on a postal ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground that the mark indicating the vote is indistinct or made more than once with the intention, that the vote shall be for a particular candidate, clearly appears from the way the ballot paper is marked. (5) The Returning Officer shall count all the valid votes given by postal ballot in favour of each candidate, record the total thereon in the result sheet in Form 35 and announce the same,