(1) Every ballot paper before it is issued to a voter and the counterfoil attached thereto shall be stamped on the back with such distinguishing mark as the State Election Commission may direct and every ballot paper before it is issued, shall be signed in full on its back by the presiding officer.
(2) At the time of issuing a ballot paper to a voter, the polling officer shall:-
(a) record on its counterfoil the serial number of the voter in the list of voters as entered in the marked copy of the list of voters;
(b) obtain the signature or thumb impression of that voter on the said counterfoil;
(c) mark the name of the voter in the marked copy of the list of voters to indicate that a ballot paper has been issued to him without however recording there in the serial number of the ballot paper issued to that voter :
Provided further that on ballot paper shall be delivered to a voter unless he has put his signature of thumb impression on the counterfoil of that ballot paper;
(3)(a) Before issuing a ballot paper to a voter, the presiding officer shall cause a mark to be put on the left forefinger of the voter with an indelible ink :
Provided that where such a mark already exists on the left forefinger of the voter, it shall be deemed that he had cast his vote already at the election and shall not be given any ballot paper :
Provided further than no ballot paper shall be given to a voter unless he is allowed a mark to be put on his left forefinger with an indelible ink.
(b) Any reference in this sub-rule to the left forefinger of a voter shall in the case where the voter has his left forefinger missing, be construed as a reference to any other finger on his- left hand and shall in the case where all the fingers of his left hand are missing, be construed as a reference to the forefinger of the right hand and shall, in case the fingers of both the hands are missing, be construed as a reference to such extremity of the left or right arm as he possesses.
(4) It shall not be necessary for any presiding officer or polling officer or any other officer to attest the thumb impression of the voter on the counterfoil.
(5) No person in the polling station shall note down the serial numbers of the ballot papers issued to particular voters.