TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO 2025 – Complete Officers Guide

TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO provide essential instructions for Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers who handle the Panchayat election process in Telangana. These guidelines ensure that polling personnel manage ballot boxes, forms, seals, voter queues, and counting procedures accurately. Telangana Gram Panchayat Elections are conducted in three phases, and officers must strictly follow the official directions, timelines, and procedures issued by the Telangana State Election Commission.

In this complete guide, we explain the responsibilities of PO and APO officers, ballot paper colours, counting procedure, rejected and accepted votes, the sealing process, and the official Phase-wise Election Schedule as per the notification. You can also download important Google Drive files, such as handbooks, checklists, and election manuals, needed forthe  smooth conduct of polling.

Overview – Why TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO Are Important

The TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO ensure that officers perform their duties according to the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act and Election Commission instructions. Since Panchayat elections use ballot boxes (not EVMs), polling officers must be familiar with paper ballots, ballot box sealing, stamping, safeguarding materials, completing the presiding officer’s diary, and counting procedures.

Teachers, government staff, and other employees appointed as PO/APO should be fully aware of the procedural steps. These include receiving election material, verifying ballot papers, managing two-colour ballots, assisting voters, handling tendered ballots, maintaining secrecy of vote, sealing boxes after the poll, and handing over materials at distribution/receipt centers.

TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO – Ballot Paper Colours

TELANGANAN పంచాయతి ఎన్నికలు – రెండు రంగుల బ్యాలెట్ పత్రాలు

• సర్పంచి అభ్యర్థులకు – గులాబీ (Pink) రంగు
• వార్డు సభ్యుల అభ్యర్థులకు – తెలుపు (White) రంగు

Voters receive two ballots — one for Sarpanch and one for Ward Member. Officers must ensure that the correct ballot paper is issued and stamped only once. Any extra marking or identifiable symbol may lead to rejection.

TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO – Poll Day Responsibilities

PO/APO officers should report early at the polling station, inspect the voting compartment, ensure the ballot box is empty, show it to polling agents, and seal it properly. A demonstration is essential before the commencement of the poll. Officers should maintain order, ensure secrecy, and allow only one voter inside the voting compartment at a time.

Polling agents must sign Form-17, and officers should maintain the register of voters who received ballot papers. Tendered ballots must be issued when necessary and safeguarded separately. A mock poll is not required for ballot box elections, but officers must verify materials before starting the poll.

Rejected Votes – When to Reject Ballot Papers

• బ్యాలెట్ పత్రంపై ఓటరును గుర్తుపట్టే విధంగా రాత/గుర్తు ఉంటే
• స్పష్టమైన ఓటు గుర్తు లేకపోతే
• చిహ్నం బాక్స్ బయట ఓటు వేయబడితే
• ఇద్దరు లేదా అంతకంటే ఎక్కువ అభ్యర్థులకు ఓటు వేసినప్పుడు
• నకిలీ లేదా దెబ్బతిన్న బ్యాలెట్ పత్రాలు
• ప్రత్యేక గుర్తు లేదా PO/APO సంతకం లేనట్లయితే

Accepted Votes – These Should Not Be Rejected

• చిహ్నం బాక్స్‌లో రెండు సార్లు మార్క్ ఉన్నా ఇది ఓటుగా పరిగణించాలి
• చిహ్నంలో స్పష్టమైన మార్క్ ఉండి వెనుక వైపు బ్లర్ మార్క్ ఉంటే అది చెల్లుతుంది
• బాక్స్ పాక్షికంగా గుర్తు ఉన్నా అది చెల్లుబాటు అవుతుంది

TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO – Counting Procedure

Ward Member (white ballots) boxes are opened first. Votes are sorted, counted, bundled in groups of 25, and recorded in the counting sheet. Sarpanch (pink ballots) votes are mixed ward-wise before counting to ensure secrecy.

In case of a tie between candidates, the Election Officer uses the lottery method as instructed by the Telangana State Election Commission. All results must be recorded immediately and signed by counting supervisors.

TG Gram Panchayat Elections Phase-wise Schedule

The Phase-wise election programme is taken from the official document you uploaded (Annexure-1, Page 3). Officers must follow these dates carefully for nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal, poll, and counting.

1st Phase Election Schedule

2nd Phase Election Schedule

3rd Phase Election Schedule

Download TG Gram Panchayat Elections Handbooks & Materials

• RO-1 Handbook (Telugu)
• RO-2 Handbook (Telugu)
• Short Notes – Election Process
• Contestant Handbook

Official links:

• Telangana State Election Commission
• e-Panchayat Telangana

The TG Gram Panchayat Elections Guidelines for PO & APO are essential for smooth and transparent polling. Officers must follow every instruction, seal ballot boxes correctly, manage ballots responsibly, complete forms accurately, and hand over all materials promptly. Use the official schedule and the downloadable handbooks to ensure flawless execution of election duties.

Bookmark this guide, share it with other polling staff, and download all resources from the Drive links provided.