ART. II] EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 119

continue for four years, and until his successor shall have
qualified; but the Governor chosen at the first election under
this Constitution shall not enter upon the discharge of the duties
of the office until the expiration of the term for which the
present incumbent was elected; unless the said office shall
become vacant by death, resignation, removal from the State,
or other disqualification of the said incumbent.
Miles v. Bradford, 22 Md. 183

Sec. 2. An election for Governor, under this Constitution,
shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday
of November, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and
on the same day and month in every fourth year thereafter, at
the places of voting for delegates to the General Assembly;
and every person qualified to vote for Delegates shall be qualified
and entitled to vote for Governor; the election to be held in the
same manner as the election of Delegates, and the returns
thereof under seal to be addressed to the Speaker of the House
of Delegates, and enclosed and transmitted to the Secretary of
State, and delivered to said Speaker, at the commencement of
the session of the General Assembly next ensuing said election.

Sec. 3. The Speaker of the House of Delegates shall then
open the said returns in the presence of both Houses; and the
person having the highest number of votes, and being constitu-,
tionally eligible, shall be the Governor, and shall qualify, in the
manner herein prescribed, on the second Wednesday of January
next ensuing his election, or as soon thereafter as may be
practicable.

Sec. 4. If two or more persons shall have the highest and an
equal number of votes for Governor, one of them shall be
chosen Governor by the Senate and House of Delegates, and all
questions in relation to the eligibility of Governor, and to the
returns of said election, and to the number and legality
of votes therein given, shall be determined by the House
of Delegates; and if the person or persons, having the
highest number of votes, be ineligible, the Governor shall
be chosen by the Senate and the House of Delegates.
Every election of Governor by the General Assembly shall be
determined by a joint majority of the Senate and House of
Delegates, and the vote shall be taken viva voce. But if two
or more persons shall have the highest and an equal number
of votes, then a second vote shall be taken, which shall be
confined to the persons having an equal number; and if the