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

(xiv) The identity of elector should be properly verified by the First Polling
Officer with reference to his entry in the electoral roll, the Elector’s
Photo Identity Card, the photograph of the elector on the Photo
Electors Rolls (If the polling station is one, where Photo Electors Rolls
have been supplied) or with reference to any of the other alternative
document(s) prescribed by the Election Commission of India. The
Election Commission issues directions from time to time prescribing
various other documents with reference to which the identity of an
election can be verified. The unofficial identity slip carried by an
elector cannot be accepted as a proof of his identity.
(xv)
(xvi)
Last four digits of the EPIC/Identity documents produced by the elector
should be entered in the ‘Remarks’ column of the Register of Voters
(Form 17-A)
After an elector has been identified, the entry relating to the elector in
the marked copy of the electoral roll should be underlined. In addition, if
the elector is a female elector, a tick mark (√ ) will also be put on the
left side of entry.
(xvii) After an elector is identified with reference to his entry in the electoral
roll and with the help of the document(s) prescribed by the Election
Commission of India, the left forefinger should be marked with the
indelible ink by the Second Polling Officer. (The method of marking the
left hand forefinger has been explained in Chapter VIII.)
(xviii) The serial number (and not the name) of the elector as given in the
marked copy of the electoral roll should be noted in the Register of
Voters (Form 17A).
(xix)
The signature or thumb impression of the elector should be obtained on
the Register of Voters (Form 17A) before he is allowed to record his
vote. If an elector refuses to put his signature or thumb impression on
the Register of Voters, he shall not be permitted to vote and an entry
‘Refused to vote’ will be made in the ‘Remarks’ column of the Register
of Voters. You will have to sign below such entry. However, if an
elector after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the
register of voters in Form 17A and has put his signature or thumb
impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decides
not to record his vote, a remark to this effect – ‘Refused to vote’ shall
be made against the said entry in Form 17A by you and the signature
or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such
remark. In such case it shall not be necessary to make any change in
the serial number of the elector or of any succeeding elector in column
1 of the register of voters (Form 17A). If the “Ballot” button on the
control unit has already been pressed to release voting on the ballot
unit by a voter and he refuses to vote, either the Presiding Officer/third
Polling Officer, whoever is in-charge of the control unit, should direct
the next voter straightaway to proceed to the voting compartment to
record his vote. In the alternative the Officer in-charge of the control
unit should put the ‘Power’ switch in the rear compartment of the
control unit to ‘OFF’ position, and then again to ‘ON’ position, press the