Chapter III
ELECTION
28. (1) The Returning Officer shall provide each Presiding Officer with such number of ballot boxes as may be necessary.
(2) The ballot boxes shall be of such material and design as may be approved by the Commission.
(3) Not more than one ballot box shall be used at a time for the purpose of the poll at any polling station, or at any polling booth, where there are more than one polling booths at a polling station.
(4) At least half an hour before the time fixed for the commencement of the poll, the Presiding Officer shall-
(a) ensure that every ballot box to be used is empty;
1[(aa) deliver such empty ballot box to the Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer recording the serial number of the concerne ballot box and the serial number of the seal thereon and obtaining signature of the receiver in the respective column of the prescribed form and endeavour to obtain signature of the agents of candidates who is willing to put signature on the said form;]
(b) show the empty ballot box to the contesting candidates and their election agents and polling agents whoever may be present;
(c) after the ballot box has been shown to be empty, close and seal it; and
(d) place the ballot box so as to be conveniently accessible to the elector, and at the same time within the sight of himself and of such candidates or their election or polling agents as may be present.
(5) If one ballot box is full or cannot further be used for receiving ballot papers, the Presiding Officer shall seal that ballot box 2[with his own seal and signature and with the seals or signatures of the contesting candidates or election agents or polling agents present who may wish to seal or sign it] and keep it in a secure place and use another ballot box in the manner laid down in clause (4).
(6) A Presiding Officer shall make such arrangements at the polling station that every elector may be able to mark his ballot paper in secret before the same is folded and inserted in the ballot box.
