handbook for presiding officers - Chief Electoral Officer, Govt. of Sikkim

10CHAPTER IX
REGULATION OF ENTRY INTO AND SEATING ARRANGEMENTS IN
THE POLLING STATION
1. Persons entitled to enter the Polling Stations
1.1 In addition to the electors assigned to your polling station, only the following
persons can be admitted into the Polling Station:-
(a) Polling Officers;
(b) Each candidate, his election agent and one duly appointed polling
agent of each candidate at a time;
(c) Persons authorised by the Commission such as media persons, microobservers;
(d) Public servants on duty in connection with election;
(e) Observers appointed by the Commission;
(f) A child in arms accompanying an elector;
(g) A person accompanying a blind or an infirm voter who cannot move
without help; and
(h) Such other persons as you may from time to time admit for the purpose
of identifying voters or otherwise assisting you in taking the poll.
1.2 The Returning Officers have been asked to issue identity cards to the
contesting candidates bearing their photographs. In case a necessity arises,
you may ask for its production when they visit the polling station. Similarly, the
election agents of the candidates can be asked to produce the duplicate copy
of their appointment letter, which is attested by the Returning Officer and also
bears the photograph of the election agent.
1.3 You should note that the term “Public servant on duty in connection with
election” does not normally include police officers. Such officers, whether in
uniform or in plain clothes, should not, as a general rule, be allowed to enter
inside the polling booth. You may, however, call them in occasionally for the
maintenance of law and order or some similar purpose, whenever the
necessity arises. Their presence in the polling booth without any compelling
reason has on occasions given rise to complaints by some candidates or
parties who have alleged that their agents had been overawed by
unnecessary show of force.
1.4 Similarly, security personnel, if any, accompanying an elector or candidate or
his election agent or polling agent should also not be allowed to enter the
polling station.
1.5 You should also note that the above expression, “Public servant on duty in
connection with election” does not also include the Ministers, State Ministers
and Deputy Ministers of the Union and the States. The Ministers, State
Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Union and the States, who have been
given security cover at the State expense are not allowed to function as
polling agents, as they can neither be allowed to enter the polling station