(1) When a postal ballot paper and other papers sent under rule 27E are for any reason returned undelivered, the Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors may re-issue them by post under certificate of posting or deliver them or cause them to be delivered to the elector personally either on a request being made by him or of his own.
(2) If any notified elector has inadvertently dealt with the ballot paper or any of the other papers sent to him under rule 27E in such a manner that they cannot conveniently be used, a second set of the papers shall be issued to him after he has returned the spoiled papers and satisfied the Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors of the inadvertence.
(3) The Assistant Returning Officer for the notified class of electors shall cancel the spoiled papers so returned and keep them in a separate packet after noting thereon the particulars of the election and the serial numbers of the cancelled ballot papers.
27-I. Return of ballot paper.—(1) After a notified elector has recorded his vote and made his declaration under rule 27F or rule 27G, he shall return the ballot paper and the declaration to the Returning Officer concerned before the hour fixed for the commencement of counting of votes.
1[Provided that in the case of absentee voter, postal ballot paper shall be returned to the centre provided for recording of vote under sub-rule (3) of rule 27F, subject to any direction that may be issued by the Election Commission in this behalf.]
(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.