Election Commission - Rule 49-0 clarification

The Election Commission Saturday said that the candidate who polls the highest number of votes would be declared the winner even if the ballots cast under the no-voting facility exceeds his winning margin.

The counting of votes for the staggered month-long assembly elections in five states, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram, will take place Monday.

In an official statement, the Commission said Rule 49-0 of the conduct of elections allowed the electorate the option to not vote for any candidate.

This did not mean that an election will be invalidated if the number of such voters is more than the candidate's victory margin.

Under this rule, the voter has an option not to exercise his franchise after he has been identified at the polling station and his name entered in the registers of voters.

His finger is also marked in the same way as those who have voted.

via IANS