1236                                Laws of Maryland                         [Ch. 739

tion is over such equipment shall be preserved by the Supervisors of
Elections for subsequent use.

106.   Examination of Ballot Boxes. As soon as the polls are open
and immediately before any ballots are received by the judges, they
shall open every ballot-box used or to be used. Having taken there-
from the poll-books, ballots and all the blanks and stationery pro-
vided by the Supervisors of Elections, they shall permit all persons
rightfully present to examine such ballot boxes, and every part
thereof, so that they may be satisfied as to the structure thereof,
and that such ballot-box is empty. The ballot-box shall then be
locked and the key delivered to one of the judges. It shall not again
be opened until the closing of the polls; and until such closing each
ballot-box shall be kept constantly in the sight of all persons entitled
to be present. It shall be so placed that the voter offering his ballot,
the judges and clerks, and all persons entitled to be present may
conveniently see every ballot deposited therein. The sealed package
of ballots shall not be opened until after the ballot-box shall have
been so examined, and closed and locked by the judges.

107.   Procedure for Casting Ballots. (a) Delivery of Ballot. At
every election each qualified voter shall be entitled to receive one
official ballot. In applying therefor to the judge of election holding
the ballots, he shall give his name and residence, and the said judge
shall repeat the same in a loud and distinct voice. If such name be
found upon the registers by the judges having custody thereof, they
shall repeat the said name, and the voter shall be allowed to enter
the space enclosed by the guard-rail. The judge holding the ballots,
having first written in ink the voter's name and number upon the
coupon attached to one of them, shall deliver said ballot to the voter
after having likewise written in ink his own name or initials upon
the back thereof; and the two clerks of election shall at the same time
enter the name of the voter upon their poll books.

(b)  Marking Ballot. Upon receipt of his ballot the voter, without
leaving the enclosed space, shall forthwith retire alone to one of the
booths or compartments and prepare his ballot. He shall mark with
an indelible pencil after the name of every person or persons for
whom he intends to vote, and to the right thereof, in the blank space
provided therefor, a cross (X) mark in case of a question submitted
to a vote of the people, by marking likewise in the appropriate space
a cross (X) mark against the answer which he desires to give. Not
more than one voter shall be permitted to occupy any one booth or
compartment at one time. No voter shall remain in or occupy a
booth longer than may be necessary to prepare his ballot, and in no
event longer than seven FOUR minutes in case all such booths or
compartments are in use and other voters are waiting to occupy the
same, except that an additional three minutes shall be allowed if there
are Constitutional amendments or referenda to be voted upon.

(c)  Casting Ballot. Before leaving the voting booth or compart-
ment the voter shall fold his ballot without displaying the marks
thereon, and in the same way it was folded when received by him.
He shall keep the same so folded until he has cast his ballot, and
so that the signature or initials of the judge from whom he received
it, and the name and number written on the coupon thereof, but
nothing else thereon, may be seen. He shall forthwith hand his ballot