4086 ARTICLE 17.

the Clerk of Election, and if said initials shall properly appear thereon,
the said ballot shall be received and placed in the ballot box. If on open-
ing of any of said ballots it shall appear that the voter has placed thereon
any unauthorized marks, writing or device, the ballot on which such unau-
thorized marks appear shall not be counted by the Judges of Election.

(F) If the initials of the Clerk of Election shall not appear on the
back of said ballot it shall not be placed in the ballot box, but shall be re-
jected and kept by the Judges and Clerk of Election in a separate place.
If any ballot be spoiled by a voter he may surrender same and receive
from said Clerk a second ballot to be voted. Rejected ballots shall not be
counted by the Judges of Election, but shall be preserved by the said
Judges and the Clerk of Election. The Judges of Election shall transmit
all ballots counted by them, and all such rejected ballots, as a part of
their report of the election, to the Council. Such reports of election shall
be filed as part of the official records of the said town; provided, how-
ever, that the Council may in their discretion direct that such ballots be
destroyed at any time after the expiration of two years from the election,
at which such ballots were cast.

(G) The Council shall receive all election returns, and within ten days
after said election shall declare the result thereof. They shall determine
all questions arising thereon; and any person conceiving himself aggrieved
by reason of such decision may appeal to the Circuit Court of Montgomery
County, which shall hear and determine the same, and determine who
shall pay the costs of appeal. In case of a tie at any election for Mayor
and members of the Council, another election shall be held, after ten days"
notice, pursuant to the provisions foregoing in regard to elections. In
case of any vacancy in the office of the Mayor or Councilmen by death,
resignation or removal from the town, said vacancy shall be filled by a
vote of the Council until the next election for members of the Council.

(H) The Mayor shall receive compensation of $1,200 per annum and
each Councilman compensation of $300 per annum, payable in equal
monthly allotments; provided, however, that said compensation shall not
be effective until first submitted to the qualified voters of the town and
approved by a majority of those voting thereon. Said question may be
submitted for decision at any municipal election and shall appear upon
the ballot in the form "Shall the Mayor and Councilmen be compensated
at the rate of $1,200 and $300 each, per annum, respectively," followed
by the words "yes" and "no," with a square after each, the voter to
register his choice by making a cross mark (X) in the square opposite
the word expressing his judgment. Should the compensation be approved
by a majority of those voting thereon said compensation shall be effective
on and after the first day of the month following said approval.

1929, ch. 169, sec. 4.

950. (A) The Council shall annually appoint one or more persons as.
officers of registration, whose duty it shall be to enter in alphabetical order
in proper and convenient books, or on cards to be provided by the Council,