1598 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 923

election; said notice shall be published at least twice before
each election and the last publication shall not be more
than ten nor less than five days before the day of said elec-
tion or primary election. Before proceeding to act, each
judge and clerk of election shall make oath that he will,
well and faithfully, without fear or favor, partiality or
prejudice, perform the duties of judge or clerk, as the case
may be, and in the case of a judge that he will deposit all
legal ballots in the ballot box, and no other ballot, and that
he will make out and sign correct returns of the votes cast
for each candidate and of the whole number of votes cast
at said election. If any persons, who have been appointed
judge or clerk of election or of primary election, shall fail,
without good and sufficient reason to excuse him to attend
and act, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof before any trial magistrate or in the Cir-
cuit Court for Dorchester County, he shall be fined fifty
dollars, and shall stand committed until both fine and costs
are paid. If any vacancy occur in the office of judge or
clerk of election it shall, if it occur before the day of elec-
tion, or primary election, be filled by appointment by the
Mayor alone. Each judge and each clerk of election who
serves shall receive the sum of five dollars for his services
at each primary election and five dollars for his services
at each general or special election.

53. The judges of election at every election for Com-
missioners immediately after the polls are closed, shall
count the ballots cast in each ward for which they were
appointed judges, and the clerks shall tally the votes cast
for each candidate, after which the judges shall make out,
on blanks furnished by said Commissioners, and sign a
certificate setting out the whole number of votes cast in
said ward and also the number of votes cast for each candi-
date. The certificate shall state that the person receiving
the highest number of votes is elected Commissioner from
that ward. As the ballots are counted, they shall be strung
by one of the judges, and when the counting is finished, the
said ballots, together with the tally sheets, shall be put into
the ballot box, and the box shall then be securely locked,
and the judges' certificate, the key to the ballot box, the
ballot box and poll book shall be delivered to the return
judge, who within three hours after the closing of the polls,
shall return the said ballot box key and certificate to the
Supervisor of Elections, at the City Hall. Any person who
bribes, coerces or intimidates any voter or attempts to
bribe, coerce or intimidate any voters at any election held
under the direction of the Supervisor of Elections and the
Commissioners of Cambridge, shall be guilty of a misde-