1528 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 934

two judges of election of opposite party affiliation are present,
they shall open the envelope containing the keys to each voting
machine and shall unlock the counter compartment and ascer-
tain whether the tabulating devices are all set at zero (000),
and whether the numbered seal on the operating lever is un-
broken, and that the number thereon is identical with the num-
ber certified on the envelope containing the said keys. They
shall also compare the number appearing on the dials of the
exposed counter designed to register every consecutive opera-
tion of the machine, with the reading thereof noted on the said
envelope containing said keys. They shall inspect the face of
the machine to make sure that the proper ballot-labels are
in the proper places, and that the machine is otherwise ready
for use. If after such inspection the said judges shall find the
machine to be in proper order, they shall sign a certificate to
that effect, which shall be returned to the Supervisors of Elec-
tions with other equipment; and after signing such certificate
they shall remove the metal seal on the operating lever at the
time set for the opening of the polls, and said lever shall then
be operated only by duly qualified voters for the purpose of
registering their respective votes.

(c) The machine shall remain locked against voting until
the polls are opened, and shall not be operated except by voters
in voting. If any counter is found not to register zero (000),
the judges of election shall immediately notify the custodian,
or the Board of Supervisors of Elections, who shall, if practi-
cable, adjust or cause the counters to be adjusted at zero
(000); but, if it shall be found impracticable for the custodian
or other person authorized by the said Board to arrive in time
so to adjust such counters before the time set for opening the
polls, the judges shall immediately make a written record of the
designation or designating letter or number of each counter, to-
gether with the numbers registered thereon, hereinbelow called
the initial number, and shall sign and post the same upon the
wall of the polling-place, where it shall remain until the polls are
closed; and, in filling out the return of the election, if the final
number of such counter is greater than the initial number,
the election officers shall subtract the initial number from the
final number and enter the difference on the returns as the
vote for the candidate or on the question represented by such
counter; if the final number of such counter is less than the
initial number, the judges of election shall add one thousand
to the final number and shall subtract the initial number from
the sum so ascertained, and shall enter upon the returns, as
the vote for the candidate or on the question represented by
such counter the final number plus one thousand less the
initial number.