The Election Commission of India recently conducted re-polling at various stations in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
- This was necessary due to several disruptions, including booth capturing and EVM malfunctions.
Key Reasons for Re-polling:
- Booth Capturing: This involves the unlawful control of polling stations, which can intimidate voters or affect the vote count.
- Under the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, the penalty for civilians ranges from 1-3 years, and for government employees, it is 3-5 years.
- This is detailed in Section 58A of the RPA 1951.
- EVM Complications: Problems such as unauthorized access, destruction, or malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines are addressed under Section 58.
- Natural Disasters: Events like floods, storms, or riots that disrupt the polling process are covered under Section 57.
- Death of a Candidate: If a candidate from a recognized political party dies after nomination but before the polling date, it is addressed under Section 52.
Procedures Following Election Disruptions:
- The Returning Officer (RO) informs the Election Commission (EC) and state officials immediately if disruption occurs. The EC then decides whether to void the poll.
- The public is informed through announcements, written notices to candidates, and drum beats in affected areas to ensure everyone is aware of the re-polling.
- New polling dates are set by the EC. Only those who did not vote in the original poll are allowed to vote in the re-poll. To ensure this, the left middle finger of voters is inked during the re-poll.
Implications of Major Disruptions:
- Severe Booth Capturing: If multiple stations are affected or if the integrity of the vote count is compromised, the election for the entire constituency may be countermanded.
Ref: Source
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