(1) Immediately after the expiry of the period with in which candidatures may be withdrawn under rule 14 the Returning Officer shall prepare and publish a list of contesting candidates, that is to say, candidates who were valid by nominate and who have not withdrawn their candidatures within the said period,
(2) The list under sub-rule (1) shall contain the names (in alphabetical order) and the addresses of the contesting candidates as given in the nomination papers.
(3) The list under sub-rule (1) shall be published in the Gazette and in the local news papers and be given wide publicity in such manner as the Returning Officer may deem fit.
16, The poll.-(1) If the number of duly nominated candidates for elections does not exceed the number of members to be elected, the Returning Officer shall forth with declare such candidates to be duly elected.
(2) If the number of such candidates exceeds the number of members to be elected the Returning Officer shail not later than thirty days before the date appointed for the poll, send by air mail to every elector residing or practicing abroad, and by post to every other elector residing within or outside the State but within the country a voting paper in from IV together will a numbered declaration paper in Form V a letter of intimation in Form VI containing the names of the candidates in alphabetical order addressed to the Returning Officer and another cover also addressed to the said office:
Provide that the voting paper and other connected papers may also be sent to any elector on his applying to the Returning Officer for the same before the date appointed for the poll, if the Returning Officer is satisfied that the papers have not been sent to him.
(3) A certificate of posting shall be obtained in respect of each such letter of intimation sent to him.
(4) An elector who has not received the voting and other connected papers sent to him by post or who has lost them or in whose case the papers before their retumn to the Returning Officer have been inadvertently spoilt, may transmit request the Returning Officer not later than fifteen days before the date appointed for the poll to send him fresh papers, and if the papers have been spoilt papers shall be returned to the Returning officer who shall cancel them to receipt.
(5) In every case in which such fresh papers have been issued, a mark shall be placed, against the number relating to the elector's name in the electoral roll to denote that fresh papers have been issued to him.
(6) No election shall be invalid by reason of non receipt by an elector of his voting papers and other connected papers.
(7) Each elector shall have the right to vote for as many candidates as there are seats to be filled by the election, and the vote shall be non-transferable.
(8) Every elector desirous of recording his vote shall, after filling up the declaration paper (Form V) and the voting paper (Form VI) according to the directions given in the letter of intimation (Form IV) enclose the voting paper cover, stick up and enclose the said cover along with the declaration paper in the outer envelope addressed to the = Returning Officer, and send that outer envelope by post at the electors own cost or by hand to the Returning Officer, so as to reach him not later than the appointed time for closure of voting on the date _ fixed for the poll.
(9) On receipt by post, or by hand, of the envelop containing the declaration paper and the closed cover containing the voting paper e Returning 18 Officer shall endorse on the cup envelope the date and the hour of its receipt.
17. Opening of the cover-(1) The Returning officer shall open the cuter envelope immediately after the appointed time for closure of voting on the date fixed for the poll at the place to which the envelopes are addressed him.
(2) Any candidate may be present in person or may send a representative duly authorized by him, in writing, to be present at the time when the outer envelops are opened,
18. Rejection of Voting paper-(1} Voting paper shall be rejected by the Returning officer if-
(a) the outer envelope contains the declaration paper outside the voting paper cover; or
(b) the declaration paper is not the one sent by the Returning Officer; or
(c) the declaration paper is not signed by the elector; or (dy the voting paper is placed outside the voting paper cover; or
(e) more than one declaration paper or voting paper cover have been enclosed in one and the same outer envelope.
(2) In each case of rejection, the word to "rejected" shall be endorsed on the voting paper cover and the declaration paper. The reason for the rejection shail also be recorded, in brief, on the voting paper cover.
(3) After satisfying himself that the election have affixed their signatures to the declaration papers, the Returning officer shall keep all the declaration papers in safe custody pending disposal under rule 21.