An Observer, who is an officer of the government, is nominated by the Election Commission (EC) to watch the conduct of election in a constituency or a group of constituencies. The Observer has the power to direct the returning officer of the constituency or group of constituencies to stop the counting of votes before the declaration of the result or not declare the result at all if he or she believes that booth capturing has taken place or the ballot has been tampered with accidentally or otherwise to an extent where the result at the polling station cannot be ascertained. If the Observer believes this to be true, he or she is expected to inform the EC immediately.