(1) A postal ballot paper shall be sent by post under certificate of posting to the notified elector together with—
(a) a declaration in Form 13A;
(b) a cover in Form 13B;
(c) a large cover addressed to the Returning Officer in Form 13C; and
(d) instructions for the guidance of the elector in Form 13E:
Provided that the Assistant Returning Officer of the notified class of electors may deliver, or cause to be delivered, the ballot paper and the Forms to the notified elector Personally:
1[Provided further that in the case of absentee voter, the postal ballot paper shall be issued in such manner as may be specified by the Election Commission.]
(2) The Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors shall at the same time—
(a) record on the counterfoil of the ballot paper the electoral roll number of the elector as entered in the marked copy of the electoral roll;
(b) mark the name of the elector in the marked copy of the electoral roll to indicate that a ballot paper has been issued to him without, however, recording therein the serial number of the ballot paper issued to that elector;
(c) ensure that the elector is not allowed to vote at a polling station.
(3) Every officer under whose care or through whom a postal ballot paper is sent shall ensure its delivery to the addressee without delay.
(4) The Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors shall ensure that ballot papers are issued to all such electors whose intimation has been received in accordance with rule 27C and who are entitled to vote by post before eight days from the date of poll in the constituency and shall on expiry of the said period of eight days keep the marked copies of the electoral rolls in sealed envelopes and record on the envelopes a brief description of its contents and the date on which it was sealed and send the sealed envelopes to the Returning Officer concerned.
(5) The Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors shall also seal in a separate packet the counterfoils of the ballot papers issued to electors entitled to vote by post and record on the packet a brief
1. Ins. by Notification No. S.O. 3786(E), dated the 22nd October, 2019.
63 Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (Statutory Rules and Order) description of its contents and the date on which it was sealed and send the sealed packet to the Returning Officer concerned.