364

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

be less than one for every one hundred voters qualified to vote
at such polling place, and not less than five in any city, and
not less than three in any polling place in any county. No
person other than voters engaged in preparing or depositing
their ballots and the election officers shall be permitted to be
within said rail, unless by authority of the judges of elections,
for the purpose of keeping order and enforcing the law. The
ballot-box shall be within said rail and not more than six feet
therefrom. The expense of providing such booths or com-
partments and guard-rail shall be a public charge, and the
same, after the election is over, shall be preserved by the super-
visors of election for subsequent use.

Inspection of
ballot-boxes.

60. As soon as the polls are opened and immediately before
any ballots are received by the judges, they shall open every
ballot-box used or to be used, and having taken therefrem the
poll-books, ballots and all the blanks and stationery provided
by the supervisors of election, they shall permit all persons
rightfully present to examine such ballot-boxes, and every part
thereof, so that they may be satisfied as to the structure thereof,
and that such ballot-box is empty. The ballot-box shall then
be locked and the key delivered to one of the judges, and shall
not again be opened until the closing of the polls; and until
such closing each ballot-box shall be kept constantly in sight of
all persons entitled to be present, and shall be so placed that
the voter offering his ballot and the judges and clerks and all
persons entitled to be present may conveniently see every ballot
deposited therein. The sealed package of ballots shall not be
opened until after the ballot-box shall have been so examined,
closed and looked by the judges.

Manner of
voting.

61. At every election each qualified voter shall be entitled to
receive one official ballot. The person applying therefor to the
judge of election holding the ballots shall give his name and
residence, and the said judge shall repeat the same in a loud
and distinct voice, and if such name be found upon the regis-
ters by the judges having the custody thereof, they shall repeat
the said name, and the voter shall be allowed to enter the space
inclosed by the guard-rail, and the judge holding the ballots,
having first written in ink the voter's name and number upon
the coupon attached to one of them, shall deliver said ballot to
the voter after having likewise written in ink his own name
or initials upon the back thereof, and the two clerks of election
shall at the same time enter the number and name of the voter
upon their poll-books. Upon receipt of his ballot the voter
shall forthwith, and without leaving the inclosed space, retire