Panchayat Elections: Odisha Set To Vote For Phase-1 On February 16

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Bhubaneswar: With the first phase of three-tier panchayat elections scheduled on February 16, polling parties have left for their respective polling stations in 11 districts.

The polling personnel for the remaining districts will be leaving for their area of posting on Tuesday, the State Election Commission secretary informed mediapersons.

On the other hand, the SEC has clarified about validity of votes during counting, which will be held at block headquarters. If votes are recorded in favour of more than one candidate then the ballot paper is liable for rejection, the secretary to SEC, RN Sahu, stated in a letter to collectors.

Citing another rule he mentioned that if the voter has recorded his vote against one contestant and another against a symbol that has been pre-folded before, the intention of the voter is clear and the same cannot be considered as recording vote in favour of more than one candidate.

The SEC issued the clarification after several queries were received by the Commission regarding the validity of ballot paper when a voter has recorded his vote in the pre-fold portion and another vote against one of the contesting candidates.

Polling will start from 7 am and continue till 1 pm. All arrangements have been put in place for Phase-I election, Sahu added.