46 ELECTIONS. [ART. 33

plaints which may be preferred to them in writing against the
fitness or qualifications of any person so appointed judge or clerk,
and to remove any such judge or clerk whom upon inquiry they
shall find to be unfit or incapable. The board shall forthwith
appoint persons, in the manner hereinbefore prescribed to fill all
vacancies in the office of judge or clerk, and shall immediately
make public the names of such persons so appointed by adver-
tisement, as nearly as may be as hereinbefore provided for the
original appointment. The record of appointments to fill vacan-
cies shall be kept in the books hereinbefore prescribed in section
nine, which books, with the recommendations and protests made
to them and all their other records and papers, shall always be
open to the inspection of the public. After notice, as aforesaid,
of their appointment, the judges and clerks shall again be notified
to appear at the office of said board, and shall then and there,
after taking the oath of office before one of said supervisors,
receive their commissions. The oath of office shall be in writing,
and subscribed by each one in a book to be kept for that purpose
by the supervisors, and shall be in substance as follows:
I——residing at——in the city or county of——in the State of
Maryland, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a legal voter
in the——precinct of the————ward of the city of————(or dis-
trict, county) in the said State; that I will support the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and that I will be faithful and bear
true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Consti-
tution and laws thereof, and that I will faithfully and honestly
discharge the duties of an officer of registration and judge of
election (or clerk of election) f or the——precinct of the——ward
of the city of——(or——district) of——county in the State of
Maryland, according to the best of my ability; and I do further
swear (or affirm) that I will not attempt to ascertain, save in
cases and in the manner in which I am authorized by law so to
do, for what candidate or candidates any person shall vote or has
voted [or how he shall vote or has voted] on any question which
may be or may have been submitted to the vote of the people;
and if such knowledge shall be acquired by me, I will not
directly or indirectly by word or act divulge or reveal the same,
or aid in doing so, save when I may be required to do so by law
in some legal proceeding.