620

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

before being distributed the ballots shall be so folded in marked

creases that the width and length of the ballots when folded shall

be uniform, and of proper width to be placed without difficulty

in the ballot-boxes now provided by law; on the back and outside

shall be printed the words "Official Ballot For," followed by the

designation of the polling-place for which it is prepared, the date

of the election, and a fac-simile of the signature of the president

or presiding officer of the board of supervisors of election by

whom the ballot has been prepared.

138. It shall be the duty of the secretary of State at least thirty

days before the first election, at which any of the ballots provided

for in the preceding section can be used, to cause to be prepared

To furnish

and transmitted to said respective boards of supervisors, sample

sample
ballots

printed forms of ballots for their assistance in the preparation of

the ballots by them, and also prepare and cause to be printed in

clear, large type on separate cards, to be called cards of instruc-

tions, at the expense of the State, and transmit to said respective

boards of supervisors, full instructions for the guidance of voters

as to obtaining ballots, the manner of marking them, the method

of gaining assistance, and the manner of obtaining new ballots

in place of those accidentally spoiled, together with copies of

sections one hundred and sixty-two to one hundred and sixty-six,

inclusive, to the number of ten for each polling-place.

139. Any person whose name has been presented as a candidate
for any office may cause his name to b'e withdrawn from nomina-

May with
draw

tion by request in writing signed by him and acknowledged before

an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds, filed with

the, secretary of State or clerk, as the case may be, before he shall

have transmitted the names of the nominees, or thereafter with

the officers by whom ballots for such office are to be prepared at

any time before the ballots have been prepared, and no name so

withdrawn shall be printed upon the ballots.

140. All ballots when printed shall be folded as hereinbefore

provided and fastened together in convenient numbers in packages,

books or blocks, in such manner that each ballot may be attached

Record to

and removed separately; a record of the number of ballots printed

be kept

and furnished for each polling-place shall be kept and preserved.

by the said boards of supervisors of election respectively; said

record shall be retained in their respective offices for six months

after each election, with reference to which it was made, and shall

then be destroyed, unless a contest shall have occurred with res-

pect to some office embraced therein, when the same shall be pre-

served until said contest shall be ended.

141. There shall be provided for each voting place, at which an

election is to be held, two sets of such ballots, each of not less

than one hundred for every fifty, or fraction of fifty registered

voters therein, and it shall be the duty of the registers of voters