ART. 17.] LAUREL. 1605

be closed and the ballots publicly counted; and they shall,
within two days after said election, make a true and correct
return of the same, under their hands, to be addressed and trans-
mitted to the president of the commissioners, who shall convene
the said commissioners on the second day after the said election,
to receive the returns of the same.

1878, ch. 468.

195. The president shall then open the said returns in the
presence of the commissioners, and the commissioners shall forth-
with cause to be issued by their clerk, certificates of election to
the five persons appearing from the said returns to have received
the highest number of votes, with the seal of the commissioners
attached; and said certificates shall be recorded among the pro-
ceedings of the commissioners.

Ibid.

196. If at any election for commissioners it shall appear from
the returns of the judges of said election that any two or more
persons voted for as commissioners have received the same num-
ber of votes, so that there is no choice for the entire number
required, but a vacancy in one or more seats, if there shall be as
many as three duly elected, such three having qualified as com-
missioners, upon entering upon the duties of their office shall
immediately proclaim a new election to supply such vacancy or
vacancies.

Ibid.

197. If it shall appear that three of the persons voted for
have not been duly elected, said commissioners shall forthwith
proclaim a new election to supply the vacancies occasioned by
the failure to elect.

Ibid.

198. Every judge of election, before he proceeds to take or
receive any vote, shall take an oath that he will permit every
qualified person and none other to vote at the election; every
clerk, before he enters any vote on the polls, shall take an oath,
that he will well and faithfully, without favor, affection or par.
tiality, execute the office of clerk of election; the several judges
may administer the oath to each other, or take the same before &