18. Scrutiny and counting of votes

(1) The Returning Officer shall attend, for the purpose of scrutiny and counting of the votes on the date and at the time and place appointed by him in this behalf:

Provided that the date so appointed shall not be later than three days from the date fixed for the poll.

(2) All the voting paper covers, other than those rejected under rule 17, shall be opened and the voting papers taken out and mixed together and the voting papers shall then be scrutinised and, the valid votes counted.

(3) A voting papers shall be invalid if-

      (a) it does not bear the Returning Officer's initials, or facsimile signature; or

      (b) the voter signs his the name or writes any word or makes any mark on it,            by which it becomes recognizable as his voting paper; or

      (c) no vote is recorded thereon; or

      (d) the number of votes recorded thereon exceeds the number of seats to be            filled; or

      (e) there is uncertainty of the vote exercised.

(4) Any candidate may be present in person or may send a representative duly authorised by him in writing to watch the process of counting.

(5) The Returning Officer shall show the voting papers, if requested to do so, to the candidates or their authorised representatives at the time of scrutiny and counting of votes.

(6) If any objection is made to any voting paper on the ground that it does not comply with the specified requirments or to any rejection by the returning officer of a voting paper, it shall be decided atonce by the Returning officer.

(7) The Returning Officer shall nominate such number of scrutinisers, who shal be Gazetted Officers of the Government, as he thinks fit.