1202

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

visors at least fifteen days prior to the date of said primary

election and shall be published at least once in two or more

newspapers published in said county- prior to the day of said

primary election, one of which newspapers, if possible, shall

be. of the political faith opposite to that of a majority of the

Board of Elections Supervisors. After so preparing his ballot

the voter shall fold the same without displaying for whom he

has voted, and in such manner that the fac-simile signature

and the initials of the ballot judge shall be easily seen; he shall

hand the same to one of the judges of election who shall forth-

Initials of

with deposit it in the proper ballot box and the said voter shall

ballot judge
on ticket.

immediately retire from the room; but no ballot shall be so

received or deposited which does not bear the fac-simile sig-

nature and initials of the ballot judge, nor shall it be counted.

SEC. 13. And be it enacted, That no person shall take or re-

Taking or re-
moving ballot.

move any ballot from the polling place before the close of the

polls; if any voter spoil a ballot he may successively obtain

others, one at a time, not exceeding three in all, upon returning

each spoiled one. Any voter who is blind or who by reason of

physical disability is unable to mark the ballot, or for any

reason, may apply to any one of said ballot judges to assist him

in the marking thereof. A voter who shall, except as herein

otherwise provided, allow his ballot to be seen by any person

with an apparent intention of letting it be known how he is

about to vote, or place any distinguishing mark upon his bal-

lot, or any person who shall interfere or attempt to interfere

with any voter when inside said enclosed space or when mark-

ing his ballot, or who shall endeavor to induce any voter before

voting to show how he marks or has marked his ballot or

otherwise violate any provision of this Act, for which no pun-

Offenders to

ishment is prescribed, shall be punished by fine of not less than

be arrested.

five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, and election

officers shall report any person so doing to the officer at the

polls, whose duty it shall be to see that the offender is duly

brought before the proper court or order his arrest forthwith.

SEC. 14. And be it enacted, That any public officer upon

Neglect of
public officer.

whom a duty is imposed by this Act who shall wilfully neglect

to perform such duty or who shall wilfully permit it in such

a way as to hinder the object of this Act, shall be punished by

a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than three hun-

dred dollars, or by imprisonment in jail for not more than one

year, or by both fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the

court.