be molested in his person or estate, on account of his
religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious
practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb
the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe
the laws of morality or injure others in their natural, civil
or religious rights, nor ought any person to be compelled
to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract,
to maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry, nor shall
any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent
as a witness, or Juror, on account of his religious belief,
provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that
under His dispensation such person will be held morally
accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished
therefor either in this world or in the world to come

Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference
to belief in, reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a
Supreme Being in any governmental or public document,
proceeding, activity ceremony school, institution, or place

Nothing in this article shall constitute an establishment
of religion

Art. 37. That no religious test ought ever to be re
quired as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in
this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence
of God, nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath
of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution

Art. 38.¹⁰ Vacant

Art. 39. That the manner of administering an oath or
affirmation to any person, ought to be such as those of the
religious persuasion, profession, or denomination, of
which he is a member, generally esteem the most effectual
confirmation by the attestation of the Divine Being

Consatutwn ofMmyland/745

Art. 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 pnnciples of commerce,
and ought not to be suffered

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

Art. 43.¹¹ That the Legislature ought to encourage the
diffusion of knowledge 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 melioration 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

Art. 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

Art. 4S. This enumeration of Rights shall not be
construed to impair or deny others retained by the People

Art. 46.¹² Equably of rights under the law shall not be
abndged or denied because of sex

ARTICLE I.

ELECTIVE FRANCHISE

SECTION I.¹³ 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 umc 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.¹⁴ Vacant

SEC. 2.¹⁵ 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 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. 3.¹⁶ 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