3. Is there any reservation for women in local body election?
Yes. Not less than one third of the total no. of Offices and seats are reserved for women.
4. What is the maximum number of votes, a voter has to cast in a local body election?
In Rural Local Bodies a voter has to cast a minimum of 4 votes and a maximum of 6 votes (in the case of Multi member wards in Village Panchayats). In Urban Local Bodies a voter has to cast one vote only.
5. What is Election Notification and Notice of Election?
Election Notification contains the election programme notified by the State Election Commission and published in the Gazette. In pursuance of the Election Notification issued by the State Election Commission, the Returning Officers publish the Election Notice in their respective office and in the office of the AROs.
6. What is the minimum age for contesting in local body elections?
A person who has attained the age of 21 years can contest in the local body election provided his name should find place in the electoral roll of the respective local body.
7. Can a non resident of a local body contest in the election?
A person who resides within the area of the local body and whose name finds place in the electoral roll alone can contest in the election of a local body.
8. Whether a candidate contesting in a ward election should be a resident of that respective ward?
It is not required that a contesting candidate should be a resident of that ward but he should be resident of the particular local body and his name must find place in the electoral roll of that local body.
9.How many nominations can an individual file for an election at a time?
Not more than four nomination paper can be presented by or on behalf of any candidate for any one election.
10.Whether the nomination paper has to be filed by the candidate alone?
The nomination paper can be filed either by the candidate or his proposer directly with the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer at the place and time fixed for this purpose.
11.Is there any concession in election deposit for candidate belonging to SC/ST?
Yes. There is fifty percent concession for candidates belonging to SC/ST.
12. Whether a contesting candidate can be a proposer?
The Contesting candidate can be a proposer for a ward/Office other than the one in which he contests.
13. Whether a candidate nominated by more than one nomination paper for a seat is required to remit separate deposits?
If a candidate has been nominated by more than one nomination paper for a seat or office, Deposit made with the first nomination is sufficient.
14. Is it necessary for the SC/ST candidates to produce the community certificate at the time of nomination?
Necessary Certificate/undertaking by the candidate in the nomination paper itself would be sufficient. However, if required so by the Returning Officer he has to produce the evidence at the time of scrutiny.
15. What is the polling hours?
The Polling hours is 7.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m.
16. If a contesting candidate set up by a recognised political party dies before poll what will be the consequence.
If a contesting candidate set up by a recognised political party dies as a contesting candidate and a report of his death is received before the commencement of the Poll, the Returning Officer, shall, upon being satisfied about the fact of the death of the candidate, by order, adjourn the poll and report the fact to the State Election Commission, the State Election Officer and the District Election Officer and all Proceedings with reference to the election shall be commenced afresh in all respects by the State Election Commission, as if for a new election subject to certain conditions as provided in the Rules.
17. Is there any preference for women electors at a polling station on polling day?
Where a polling station is for both men and women electors, the presiding Officer may direct that they shall be admitted into the polling station alternatively in separate batches. The Returning Officer or the Presiding Officer may engage the services of a woman to serve as an attendant at any Polling Station to assist women electors and also to assist the Presiding Officers in taking the poll in respect of women electors generally, and in particular to help in searching any woman elector in case it becomes necessary.
18. What is challenging of identity?
Any Polling agent may challenge the identify of a person claiming to be particular elector by first depositing the prescribed sum in cash with the Presiding Officer for every such challenge. After enquiry if the Presiding Officer considers that the challenge has been established, he shall debar the person challenged from voting besides taking appropriate action against him.
19. What is contested election and uncontested election?
If more than one candidate stands in the election after scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination and where poll becomes necessary it is called contested election. Where only one candidate is found eligible after scrutiny and withdrawal and where no poll is necessary it becomes uncontested election and the candidate is elected unopposed.
20. If you go to your polling station and find that some body else has impersonated for you and already voted in your name, can you vote in such circumstances?
Yes. If a person finds that someone else has already voted in his name, then also he will be allowed to vote. But his ballot paper will be marked as a Tendered Ballot paper by the Presiding Officer. This will be kept separately in the prescribed cover as per the Election Rules.
21. On the day of poll, can any one vote in the name of another person, even with his consent?
No. On the day of poll no one can vote in the name of another even with his consent. If he does so it would amount to impersonation.
22. What is the eligibility to get refund of the deposit amount?
A candidate who secures more than one sixth of the total valid polled votes in that election is eligible to apply for the refund of deposit from the Returning Officer.
23. Is a candidate free to spend as much as he likes on election?
No. A Candidate cannot spend more than the ceiling amount prescribed for that election.
24. Are the candidates required to file any account of election expenses?
Yes. As per the election laws a candidate shall file his election expenditure within thirty days from the date of declaration of result of election.
25. What is the penalty if a candidate does not file his account of election expenses?
Failure to lodge the election expenditure account will attract disqualification to hold the post and to contest in the local body for a period of three years from the date of disqualification.
26. What is the procedure to be followed when an elector deciding not to vote (in a polling station where EVM is used) after making entries in Form 21?
If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of elector in Form 21 and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under rule 68 decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 21 by the Presiding Officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.
