CHARTERS.

1397

sensible, and discreet of the people from each ward, who shall

be citizens of the United States, above twenty-one years of age.

residents of the said town three years preceding their appoint-

ment, and assessed on the books of the assessor to the amount

of one thousand dollars; and the voters for the first branch of

the said city council shall have the same qualifications as voters

for delegates to the general assembly of this state; and the said

election shall be made viva voce.*

Qualification reduced to J300, by supplement in 1807, ch. 152, sec. 5,

and 1827, ch. 183, sec. 4.

*

* Voting to be by ballot, supplement in 1805, ch. 108.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted. That the first election for members

Elections

of the first branch of the city council shall be held on the third

for the first
branch,

Monday in February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-
seven, and on the third Monday in February, in each and every

when to be
held.

year thereafter, at such place in each ward as the judges of the

election, in the first instance, and afterwards as the corporation

by ordinance shall direct. The election shall be held by wards,

and no person shall be entitled to vote for any but the mem-

bers of the ward of which he is a resident ; three respectable

citizens, residents in each ward, or a majority of them, in the

first instance, to be appointed by the commissioners of Bald-

How judges

more town, and afterwards by the mayor of said city, shall

of elections
are ap-

be judges of the elections in their respective wards, and they

pointed.

shall have power to appoint their respective clerks.

Changed to third Monday in October, by supplement in 1827, ch. 183,

sec. 1.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That the polls in each ward shall

Polls open

be kept open one day, from eight o'clock in the morning till six

one day.

o'clock at night, and no longer, and when closed, the several

judges shall, within three days after such election, notify to the

persons having the greatest number of legal votes in their re-

spective wards that they are duly elected ; and they shall make

their return, and deposite their polls in the first instance with

the present clerk of the commissioners of Baltimore town, and

thereafter as shall be directed by ordinance; any vacancy hap-

pening in the first branch of the city council, shall be filled up

without delay, from the ward where such vacancy happened,

in such manner as shall be hereafter directed by ordinance.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That the second branch shall

Qualifica-

consist of eight members, who shall be chosen from the several

tions of
members of

wards, and no person shall be eligible as a member of the
second branch, who is not of the full age of twenty-five years, a

the second
branch.

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the said town four

years previous to his election, and assessed on the books of the

assessor to the amount of two thousand dollars ; and the mem-