(1) If the presiding officer is satisfied that owning to blindness or other physical infirmity an elector is unable to recognize the symbols on the ballot paper or to make a mark thereon without assistance, the presiding officer shall permit the elector to take with him a companion of not less than eighteen years of age to the voting compartment for recording the vote on the ballot paper on his behalf and in accordance with his wishes, and, if necessary; for folding the ballot paper so as to conceal the vote and inserting it into the ballot box:
Provided that no person shall be permitted to act as the companion or more than one elector at any polling station on the same day:
Provided further that before any person is permitted to act as the companion of an elector on any day under this rule, the person shall be required to declare that he will keep secret the vote recorded by him on behalf of the elector and that he has not already acted as the companion of any other elector at any polling station on that day.
(2) The presiding officer shall keep a record in Form-17 of all cases under this rule.
68. Spoiled and returned ballot papers :(1) An elector who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper may, on returning it to the presiding officer and on satisfying him of the inadvertence, be given another ballot paper and the ballot paper so returned and the counterfoil of such ballot paper shall be marked “Spoilt; cancelled” by the presiding officer.
SERIES - I (2015) THE D.&N.H. EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE (Serial No. 50) Page -25
(2) If an elector after obtaining a ballot paper decided not to use it, he shall return it to the presiding officer, and the ballot paper so returned and the counter foil if such ballot paper shall be marked as “Returned: cancelled” by the presiding officer.
(3) All ballot papers cancelled under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2) shall be kept in a separate packet.