13. Poll

(1) Where the number of candidate duly nominated is equal to or less than the number of members to be elected to represent the Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani System of Medicine, as the case may be, from the State concerned, the Returning Officer shall forthwith declare such candidates to be duly elected.

(2) Where the number of such candidates is less than the number of members to be so elected the Returning Officer shall commence fresh proceedings for the election of the remaining members to be elected under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 3.

(3) Where the number of such candidate exceeds the number of members to be elected to represent the Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani System of Medicine as the case may be, from the State concerned, the Returning Officer shall publish their names and addresses in the Official Gazette and shall further cause their names to be entered in the voting papers in Form II.

(4) If a poll is found necessary, the Returning Officer shall, thirty days before the date appointed therefor, send by post to each elector a letter of intimation in Form IV together with a numbered declaration paper in Form III, a voting paper in Form II containing the names of the candidates in alphabetical order and bearing the Returning Officer's initials or facsimile signature, a voting paper cover addressed to him (the Returning Officer) and an outer envelope also addressed to him and a certificate of posting shall be obtained in respect of each such letter of intimation sent to an elector:

Provided 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 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.

1["(4A) The Returning Officer shall, after sending to the electors, the voting papers and other connected papers referred to in sub-rule (4), publish an advertisement, in one issue of the daily newspaper in the English language having circulation in the major part of the State and one issue of such daily newspaper in the regional language as the Returning Officer may consider suitable, about the fact of having posted such voting papers and other connected papers at the addresses of the electors as mentioned in the State Register."].

(5) 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 return to the Returning Officer have been inadvertently spoilt, may transmit a declaration to that effect signed by himself and request the Returning Officer not later than seven day, before the date appointed for the poll to send him fresh papers and if the papers have been spoilt, the spoilt papers shall be returned to the Returning Officer who shall cancel them on receipt.

(6) In every case, in which fresh papers are issued a mark shall be placed against the number relating to the elector's name in a copy of the State Register of Indian Medicine to denote that fresh papers have been issued.

(7) Each elector shall have as many votes as there are members to be elected from that State to represent the Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani Systems of Medicine, as the case may be, but shall give only one vote to any one candidate.

(8) No election shall be invalid by reason of the non-receipt by an elector of his voting paper.