What is Challenged Vote, How to Handle Challenged vote

What is Challenged vote? How to Handle Challenged Vote

The polling agent can also challenge the identity of a person claiming to be a particular elector by depositing a sum of Rupees 2 in cash with you for each such challenge. You shall hold a summary inquiry into the challenge. If after the enquiry you consider that the challenge has not been established, you shall allow the person challenged to vote. If you consider that the challenge has been established, you shall debar the person challenged from voting and shall handover such person to the police with a written complaint.

CHALLENGING A VOTER’S IDENTITY

Every person, whose name is entered in the electoral Roll and produces a proof of his identity as per the Commission Order, is entitled to vote at the election. Unless, there is a challenge by a candidate or his election or polling agents, or unless you or polling officer is clearly satisfied that he is a bogus voter, it should normally be presumed that the person is genuine voter. If there is a challenge or if you feel any reasonable doubt about the identity of the person from the surrounding circumstances, you should hold a summary inquiry and decide the question. /2019/04/what-is-challenged-vote-how-to-identify-challenged-vote.html

CHALLENGE FEE

You should not entertain any challenge to a voter’s identity by a candidate or his election/polling agent until the challenger pays two rupees in cash. After the amount has been paid, furnish a receipt there for to the challenger in the Form prescribed in Annexure 8. Warn the person challenged about the penalty for personation, read out the relevant entry in the electoral roll in full and ask him whether he is the person referred to in that entry, enter his name and address in the list of Challenged Votes (Form 14) and ask him to sign or affix his thumb impression thereon. If he refuses to do so, do not allow him to vote

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RETURN OR FOR FEITURE OF CHALLENGE FEE

Immediately after the inquiry is over, return the challenge fee of two rupees to the person, who made the challenge, after taking his receipt in Column 10 of Form 14 – “LIST OF CHALLENGED VOTES” and on the counterfoil of the relevant receipt in the receipt book, in every case, except where you are of the opinion that the challenge was frivolous or was not made in good faith. In the latter case, forfeit the challenge fee to Government and do not return it to the challenger and enter the word “forfeited” in Column 10 of Form 14 and the relevant counterfoil in the receipt book, instead of taking the depositor’s signature or thumb impression.

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