1088 LAWS or MARYLAND. [Ch. 694]

said election or primary election. Before proceeding to act,
each judge and clerk of election shall make oath that he will,
well and faithfully, without fear or favor, partiality or preju-
dice, perform the duties of judge or clerk, as the case may be,
and in the case of a judge that he will deposit all legal ballots
in the ballot box, and no other ballot, and that he will make out
and sign correct returns of the votes cast for each candidate
and of the whole number of votes cast at said election. If any
persons, who have been appointed judge or clerk of election or
of primary election, shall fail, without good and sufficient rea-
son to excuse him to attend and act, he shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof before a justice of the
peace or in the Circuit Court for Dorchester County, he shall
be fined fifty dollars, and shall stand committed until both fine
and costs are paid. If any vacancy occur in the office of judge
or clerk of election it shall, if it occur before the day of elec-
tion, or primary election, be filled by appointment by the Mayor
alone. Each judge and each clerk of election who serves shall
receive the sum of one dollar for his services at each primary
election and one dollar for his services at each general or special
election.

Election Returns.

49. The judges of election at every election for commis-
sioners immediately after the polls are closed, shall count the
ballots cast in each ward for which they were appointed judges,
and the clerks shall tally the votes cast for each candidate, after
which the judges shall make out, on blanks furnished by said
commissioners, and sign a certificate setting out the whole num-
ber of votes cast in said ward and also the number of votes cast
for each candidate. The certificate shall state that the person
receiving the highest number of votes is elected commissioner
from that ward. As the ballots are counted, they shall be
strung by one of the judges, and when the counting is finished,
the said ballots, together with the tally sheets shall be put into
the ballot box, and the box shall then be securely locked, and
the judges' certificate, the key to the ballot box, the ballot box
and poll book shall be delivered to the return judge, who within
three hours after the closing of the polls, shall return the said
ballot box key and certificate to the commissioners or to the
town clerk for the commissioners. Any person who bribes,
coerces or intimidates any voter or attempts to bride, coerce or
intimidate any voter at any election held under the direction of
the commissioners of Cambridge, shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor, and on conviction thereof before any justice of the
peace, or in the Circuit Court for Dorchester County, shall be