84

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

to one paper; such paper when executed as above pre-

scribed may be filed as provided for in section 161 X of this

article, with the same effect as a certificate of nomination

made by a party convention, but if the signatures are

appended to more than one paper, all such papers must be

fastened together and filed as one whole certificate ; all such

papers shall be known as "Nomination Papers;" all such

nomination papers shall be accompanied by an affidavit or

affidavits before a Justice of the Peace by some one or more

persons known personally to the justice, certified by him and

signed by the affiant that the signers thereto are registered

voters of the wards in which they respectively reside.

161 X. All such certificates and nomination papers for

Nomina-
tion

the nomination of candidates to be voted for by the, voters

Papers

of the city of Hagerstown, or any ward thereof, and all

papers of withdrawal of a candidate or candidates shall be

filed with the board of supervisors of election of said city of

Hagerstown ; at the end of six months after the election for

which the nominations were made, the said board of super-

visors shall destroy the said certificates, nomination and

withdrawal papers, and said board shall destroy the copies

thereof, unless there be some contest with respect to the

election for which the nomination was made, and then the

same shall be preserved until such contest is ended.

161 Y. All such certificates and nomination papers re-

When to be
Filed

quired by the provision of this article to be filed with said

board of supervisors of elections shall be filed not more than

ten nor less than six days before the day of the election for

which such nominations are made ; in the calculation of said

period the day of the filing of the certificates and the day of

election shall both be excluded ; all certificates of nomina-

tion and nom ination papers when filed, shall, under proper

regulations to be made by said board of supervisors, be open

to public inspection.

161 Z. If the officers with whom such certificates and

Defects

nomination papers have been filed shall observe defects

therein

therein, it shall be their duty immediately to bring the

same to the attention of the persons by whom the same were

filed, and allow any necessary corrections to be made, pro-

vided, that in making the same the proceeding shall be the

same as herein directed for the making acknowledgments

and verification of such certificates and nomination papers ;

when said certificates and nomination papers are in sub-

stantial conformity with the article, they shall be deemed

to be valid.