166 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 94

to receive the same, if the construction of the voting machine
shall permit their separate return. Said envelope shall have
indorsed thereon a certificate of the election officers, stating
the number of the machine, the precinct where it has been used,
the number on the seal, and the number on the protective
counter or device at the close of the polls.

(d) As soon as possible after the completion of the count,
the Board of Supervisors of Election shall have the voting
machine properly boxed or securely covered and removed to
a place of storage to be designated by said Board.

224-Q. The general return sheet, triplicate return sheets,
and statement, shall be printed to conform with the type of
voting machine used. The designating number and letter, if
any, on the counter for each candidate shall be printed there-
on opposite the candidate's name. Immediately after the vote
has been ascertained, the statement thereof shall be posted on
the door of the polling-place. Thereupon, each of the judges
shall take into his possession one of the above mentioned re-
turn sheets, sealed up in its envelope as aforesaid, and the
meeting of said judges shall then be dissolved. Thereupon
the said judges shall forthwith deliver the said return sheets
to the respective officers to whom they are addressed, as afore-
said, and shall take receipts therefor.

224-R. After each general or special election, the voting
machine shall remain locked against voting for the thirty
days next following such election, and as much longer as
may be necessary or advisable because of any existing or
threatened contest over the result of the election, with due
regard for the date of the next following election, except that
it may be opened and all the data and figures therein exam-
ined, upon the order of any court of competent jurisdiction,
or judge thereof, or by direction of any legislative committee
to investigate and report upon contested elections affected by
the use of such machine, and such data and such figures
shall be examined by such court, judge or committee in the
presence of the officer having the custody of such machine. A
notice of contest shall be given to the Supervisors of Election,
as provided in Section 144 of this Article as to general and
special elections, and as provided in Section 217 thereof as to
primary elections, upon receipt of which notice said Super-
visors shall proceed as directed by Section 224-A of this
Article.

224-S. Whenever it shall appear that there is a discrepancy
in the returns of any precinct, or, upon petition of three voters
of any precinct, verified by affidavit, that an error, although