member, generally esteem the most effectual confirmation by the
attestation of the Divine Being.

An. 40. That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably
preserved; that every citizen of the State ought to be allowed to
speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being
responsible for the abuse of that privilege.

Art. 41. That monopolies are odious, contrary to the spirit of a
free government and the principles of commerce, and ought not
to be suffered.

An. 42. That no title of nobility or hereditary honors ought to
be granted in this State.

An. 43.'° That the Legislature ought to encourage the diffusion
of knowlege and virtue, the extension of a judicious system of
general education, the promotion of literature, the arts, sciences,
agriculture, commerce and manufactures, and the general melio-
ration of the condition of the People. The Legislature may
provide that land actively devoted to farm or agricultural use
shall be assessed on the basis of such use and shall not be assessed
as if sub-divided.

An. 44. That the provisions of the Constitution of the United
States, and of this State, apply, as well in time of war, as in time of
peace; and any departure therefrom, or violation thereof, under
the plea of necessity, or any other plea, is subversive of good
Government, and tends to anarchy and despotism.

An. 45. This enumeration of Rights shall not be construed to
impair or deny others retained by the People.

Art. 4<S." Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged
or denied because of sex.

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.

SECTION I.¹² All elections shall be by ballot. Every citizen of
the United States, of the age of 18 years or upwards, who is a
resident of the State as of the time for the closing of registration
next preceding the election, shall be entitled to vote in the ward or
election district in which he resides at all elections to be held in
this State. A person once entitled to vote in any election district,
shall be entitled to vote there until he shall have acquired a
residence in another election district or ward in this State.

SEC. 1A." Vacant.

SEC. 2.'⁴ The General Assembly shall provide by law for a
uniform registration of the names of all voters in this State, who
possess the qualifications prescribed in this Article, which
Registration shall be conclusive evidence to the Judges of Election
of the right of every person, thus registered, to vote at any
election thereafter held in this State; but no person shall vote, at

'"Amended by Chapter 65, Acts of 1960, ratified Nov. 8, 1960.
"Added by Chapter 366, Acts of 1972, ratified Nov. 7, 1972.
Amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956;
Chapter 784, Acts of 1969, ratified Nov. 3, 1970; Chapter 681, Acts
of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Added by Chapter 20, Acts of 1918, ratified Nov. 5, 1918.
Amended by Chapter 480, Acts of 1953, ratified Nov. 2, 1954;
Chapter 100, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956; Chapter 881, Acts
of 1974, ratified Nov. 5, 1974. Renumbered as Art. I, sec. 3, by
Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Originally Article i, sec. 5, thus renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts
of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978. As sec. 5 it was amended by Chapter
99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956.

Constitution of Maryland/679

any election. Federal or State, hereafter to be held in this State, or
at any municipal election in the City of Baltimore, unless his
name appears in the list of registered voters; the names of all
persons shall be added to the list of qualified voters by the officers
of Registration, who have the qualifications prescribed in the first
section of this Article, and who are not disqualified under the
provisions of the second and third sections thereof.

SEC. 3." The General Assembly of Maryland shall have power
to provide by suitable enactment for voting by qualified voters of
the State of Maryland who are absent at the time of any election
in which they are entitled to vote and for voting by other qualified
voters who are unable to vote personally and for the manner in
which and the time and place at which such absent voters may
vote, and for the canvass and return of their votes.

SEC. 4." The General Assembly by law may regulate or
prohibit the right to vote of a person convicted of infamous or
other serious crime or under care or guardianship for mental
disability.

SEC. 5." It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass
Laws to punish, with fine and imprisonment, any person, who
shall remove into any election district, or precinct of any ward of
the City of Baltimore, not for the purpose of acquiring a bonaflde
residence therein, but for the purpose of voting at an approaching
election, or, who shall vote in any election district, or ward, in
which he does not reside (except in the case provided for in this
Article), or shall, at the same election, vote in more than one
election district, or precinct, or shall vote, or offer to vote, in any
name not his own, or in place of any other person of the same
name, or shall vote in any county in which he does not reside.

SEC. 6." If any person shall give, or offer to give, directly or
indirectly, any bribe, present or reward, or any promise, or any
security, for the payment or delivery of money, or any other
thing, to induce any voter to refrain from casting his vote, or to
prevent him in any way from voting, or to procure a vote for any
candidate or person proposed, or voted for as the elector of
President, and Vice President of the United States, or Representa-
tive in Congress or for any office of profit or trust, created by the
Constitution or Laws of this State, or by the Ordinances, or
Authority of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the
person giving, or offering to give and the person receiving the
same, and any person who gives or causes to be given, an illegal
vote, knowing it to be such, at any election to be hereafter held in
this State, shall, on conviction in a Court of Law, in addition to
the penalties now or hereafter to be imposed by law, be forever
disqualified to hold any office of profit or trust, or to vote at any
election thereafter. But the General Assembly may in its discre-
tion remove the above penalty and all other penalties upon the
vote seller so as to place the penalties for the purchase of votes on
the vote buyer alone.

SEC. 7." The General Assembly shall pass Laws necessary for
the preservation of the purity of Elections.

"Originally Article I, sec. 1A, thus renumbered by Chapter 681,
Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Originally Article I, sec. 2, thus renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts
of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978. As sec. 2 it was amended by Chapter
368, Acts of 1972, ratified Nov. 7, 1972.
"Originally Article I, sec. 4, thus renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts
of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Originally Article I, sec. 3, thus renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts
of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978. As sec. 3 it was amended by Chapter
602, Acts of 1912, ratified Nov. 4, 1913.
¹⁹ Transferred from Article III, sec. 42, by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977,
ratified Nov. 7,1978. Previous sec. 7 renumbered as Art. I, sec. 11, by
same act and ratification.