718 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 277

the candidate for Commissioner receiving the highest number
of votes shall hold office for a 5-year term, the one receding
the second highest number of votes shall hold office for a 4-year
term and the one receiving the third highest number of votes
shall hold office for a 3-year term. If there shall be a tie vote
in any election, it shall be broken by lot, conducted publicly
by the judges of election.

(c) Any person qualified to hold the office of Commissioner,
desiring to be a candidate for such office, shall file with the
Town Commissioners a written statement to that effect at least
15 days prior to the date of the election at which he desires to
be a candidate, or his name shall not be printed on the ballot.

(d) The Commissioners shall give notice of such election by
publication once in each week for two successive weeks in one
or more newspapers published in Caroline County immediately
preceding such election and by such other means as they may
elect. Such notice shall specify the time and place of such elec-
tion and the judges who shall officiate thereat and the names
of the candidates, filed as aforesaid. The Commissioners each
year shall appoint and fix the pay of three judges of election
and substitutes, if necessary, from among the persons qualified
to vote as aforesaid, which judges shall determine the eligibil-
ity of the voters and keep record of the persons voting, which
record, together with the ballots, shall be preserved by the
Commissioners for at least four months after the election. The
judges shall give to the Commissioners a certificate specifying
the number of persons voting, and the number of votes cast for
each candidate, and shall declare duly elected the person re-
ceiving the highest number of votes, except that in the year
1951 they shall declare candidates elected in accordance with
the provisions applicable to said election, and so notify the per-
sons elected. The election shall be by secret ballot containing
the names of all candidates, filed as aforesaid, and allowing
space for write-ins, in the usual form of ballots at public elec-
tions, which ballots shall be printed by the Commissioners and
issued by the judges to qualified voters. Said judges shall con-
duct such election in accordance with the ordinance prescrib-
ing the same.

(e) If such notice shall not be given at the time necessary, or
the judges not be appointed or refuse to act, or refusing, the
Commissioners shall not appoint others in their stead or if the
election for any reason be not held, five or more eligible voters
of said town may call an election for like purpose to be con-
ducted in a like manner and such call shall supersede the
power of appointment; such call shall be by notice signed by
at least five voters and set up in at least four of the most public
places in said town not more than fifteen nor less than six