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Duties/tasks of the booth agents for elections
Posted on: 11/Apr/2019 3:33:54 PM
1. To confirm by checking that there are no votes in the voting machine before voting commences.
2. Vote at least 3 times as a dummy voter in order to check whether votes are going to the right contestant.
3. Supervise, scrutinize whether the right person is voting under the given identity.
4. In case a wrong person tries to vote, he should be blocked and moved out.
5. Once the voting concludes, checking whether the sealing has been fixed properly.
6. Keep count of the number of voting machines. Check and confirm whether the same machines are being transported or brought.
The number of booth agents
1. For each polling booth, including1 agent to sit inside the booth, 2 more agents to relieve him/her when required, a total of 3 agents will suffice. Or even 2 will do!
2. Though there may be 3 agents, only one must sit inside the booth.
Appointment of booth agent
1. Only the persons nominated by the contestant or his agent can be employed as booth agent.
2. The filled application form- 10 (appointment form) and attached with the letter signed by the contestant or his agent.
3. The booth agent must sign in the presence of the contestant or his agent.
4. When handing over this to the Election Officer, the booth agent must sign. The sign here and in the letters given must be identical and tally. Otherwise, the booth agent may be rejected.
5. If the booth agent is voting by post, the letter should be given 10 days in advance. Otherwise, it is OK to go with the letter on the election date.
Qualifications for booth agent
1. The booth agent must be literate (ability to read and write).
2. The agent’s name must be included in the voters’ list anywhere within Tamil Nadu.
3. If he has o vote in the same booth of his duty, especially if the voting is done in the very same booth where he/she sits, it is all well and good!
4. A government employee cannot sit as a booth agent. If found out, imprisonment or penalty or both may be imposed!
5. The booth agent must have a fair knowledge about the election and the voting machine.
Entrance time of the booth agent
1. On the day (date) of the election, the booth agent must enter at least an hour before the commencement of voting.
2. The agent has to bring the filled-up application form-10 as appointment letter with signatures by the contestant or his agent.
3. This should be handed over to the booth officer and then register as a booth agent. Receive the Identity card and keep it safe.
4. If and when government officials ask, the ID card must be shown, Failure may result in being sent out of the booth.
5. The second/substitute agent should also arrive an hour before voting commenced and receive his/her ID card. Then he should remain outside. Only when relieving the sitting agent, he/she may go inside.
6. The agent who sits inside is the main agent. The others are just relievers.
7. Cell phone must not be brought.
8. Smoking/taking alcoholic drinks are prohibited.
Items which can be taken by the booth agent inside the booth
1. The total voters list of the relevant booth. It should be gotten ready – it would not be given there.
2. Pen, pencil, A4 white sheets, seal for sealing the machines
3. Until the voting concludes by the evening, no permission will be given to take anything outside.
Things to do inside the polling booth
1. The agent must use the same chair till the end of duty,
2. The agent must check and confirm whether the right person as per the records is voting.
3. The agent must keep count of the number of votes registered.
4. The counting by the booth agent, election officer and the machine should tally!
5. Once the sealing is done, the booth agent should check and confirm that the machines are kept inside the vehicle properly.
These are the duties of the booth agents! The booth agent should be alert and should ensure nothing wrong happens!
