1102 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

the clerk of the Circuit Court for Wicomico county, or a justice
of the peace, to fairly and impartially perform the duties of
judges of such election. In case any of the persons so ap-
pointed as judges should fail to appear and qualify or to open
the polls at the hour when same should be opened, or to per-
form any of the duties required of them as such judges, unless
excused before time of opening the polls by the Mayor, then the
judge or judges so failing to qualify or open the polls as afore-
said, or to perform any of the duties required of them as such
judges or as clerk, unless incapacitated by sickness, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction after in-
dictment shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than five
hundred dollars and be committed to the county jail until the
fine and costs are paid, or both fined and sentenced to the
House of Correction for not less than three nor more than
twelve months, at the discretion of the court. In case any or
all of the judges so appointed should fail to qualify or to be
present at the opening of the polls at any such election, then
the Mayor may at once appoint another person or persons to
act in the place of the one or ones not qualifying or preseat,
then the judge or judges present shall appoint from the voters
present at the opening hour at the poll room some qualified per-
son or persons to act as judge in the place of the one or ones not
qualified or present, and the judges present or one of them may
administer the oath required to the one or ones so appointed.
And in case that none of the judges are present at the time for
the opening of the polls at such election, then the qualified
voters who are present shall select three of their number who
shall qualify and act as judges of said election, subject to all
the provisions and penalties herein. The judges shall appoint
one of their number as clerk to the election; they shall keep the
polls open from 9 o'clock A. M. to 5 o'clock P. M.; they shall
within two days of the election return under their hands and
seals the number of votes cast for each person and for what
office or object, together with the ballots, taken in sealed pack-
ages to the clerk of the Circuit Court of Wicomico county, who
shall record said returns and preserve said ballots for at least
two months; the clerk shall issue certificates of election to the
persous appearing by said return to have received the largest
number of votes; said certificate shall be recorded in the pro-
ceedings of said Council. Should the Mayor wilfully fail to
perform any of his duties under this section he shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction be fined
not less than twenty-five dollars and costs and be committed to
the county jail until paid, or both, at the discretion of the
court. All the judges of election under this Act, whether ap-