(1) After an elector has recorded his vote and made his declaration under rule 24 or rule 25, he shall return the ballot paper and declaration to the returning officer in accordance with the instructions communicated to him in Part II of Form 13D so as to reach the returning officer before 3[the hour fixed for the commencement of counting of votes].
(2) If any cover containing a postal ballot paper is received by the returning officer after the expiry of the time fixed in sub-rule (1), he shall note thereon the date and time of its receipt and shall keep all such covers together in a separate packet.
(3) The returning officer shall keep in safe custody until the commencement of the counting of votes all covers containing postal ballot papers received by him.
1. Subs. by Notification No. S.O. 3778 (E) dated the 23rd Auguest, 2023 for the words “any gazetted officer”.
2. Ins. by Notification No. S.O. 3450, dated the 9th November, 1966.
3. Subs. by Notification No. S.O. 479A, dated the 27th January, 1971, for certain words.
61 Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (Statutory Rules and Order) 1[PART IIIA Procedure for voting by the notified class of electors