20 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 3

such honorably discharged Absentee Resident, as is set forth
in the other provisions of this sub-title for ballot envelopes
and ballots cast by other Absentee Residents.

142. Immediately after the completion of the canvass of the
votes cast at the regular voting places in this State at any
election, the several Boards shall meet at the usual place
for holding the Circuit Court for the County or in Baltimore
City at the offices of the Supervisors of Elections and shall
there first register all Absentee Residents entitled thereto
and not previously registered, and such registration shall be
deemed to have been made on the day of said election and
prior to the casting of their votes by such Absentee Residents.
Immediately after completing such registration, said several
Boards shall proceed to count, certify and canvass the ballots
contained in the Ballot Envelopes, received by them from
the Secretary of State as hereinbefore provided, at any time
prior to the closing of the polls on election day. Whenever
any Board shall determine from proof or investigation that
any person who has marked and transmitted an Absentee
Ballot, whether under Act of Congress or the provisions of
this sub-title, has died before election day, said Board shall
not count the ballot of said deceased voter, but it shall be
preserved by said Board for six months and may then be
destroyed, unless prior to that time the Board be ordered by
a court of competent jurisdiction to keep the same for any
longer period. Unless at or prior to the time of such counting
and canvassing the Board shall have determined that the
Absentee Resident who marked a ballot had died before elec-
tion day, said ballot shall be counted, and the fact that said
Absentee Resident may later be shown to have been actually
dead on election day shall not invalidate said ballot or said
election. If said Board determines that said Absentee Resi-
dent voted in person at said election, his Absentee Ballot shall
not be counted.

If said Boards determine that the provisions for filling
out and signing the oath on the outside of the Ballot Envelope
have been substantially complied with and that the person
signing the voter's oath is entitled lo vote under this sub-title
in any precinct or election district or ward of their respective
County or City, as the case may be, and has not already
voted therein on election day, they shall open the Ballot
Envelope and remove the ballot therefrom and place it in a
ballot box or ballot boxes prepared for that purpose. The
Board shall not open or unsold any Absentee Ballot at any
time prior to counting the same. When any Ballot Envelope
is opened, the Board shall enter in the appropriate register
the fact that the voter whose name appears thereon has
voted, using the initials "V. M." to indicate that the vote
has been by mail. If there be more than one ballot in the
Ballot Envelope, all shall be rejected. State or Federal