1318                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 739

candidate but such vote shall not invalidate the remainder of such
ballot.

275. Registration of Voter. (a) Duty of Board. Upon receipt by
the Board at any time prior to the closing of the polls on election
day of an Absentee Ballot Envelope from an Absentee Resident, said
Board shall forthwith determine whether such Absentee Resident is
already registered as a voter. If such Absentee Resident is regis-
tered, his Absentee Ballot shall be safely kept by the Board and
counted and canvassed at the proper time as in this sub-title pro-
vided. If the Board shall determine that such Absentee is not regis-
tered or if the Board is unable to determine whether such Absentee
Resident is or is not registered, said Board shall accept the infor-
mation, set forth in his duly executed oath on the said Ballot Envel-
ope, as prima facie accurate and correct, and if such information
discloses that said Absentee Resident is (1) citizen of the United
States, (2) will be twenty-one years or older on the day of the elec-
tion for which said ballot is offered, (3) has been a resident of Mary-
land for a year preceding said election, (4) has been a resident for
six (6) months preceding the day of said election of the election
district or ward in which his residence in Baltimore City is located,
and (5) is not disqualified to vote by the commission of crime, said
Board shall register such Absentee Resident, and shall then safely
keep said Absentee Ballot and count and canvass the same as pro-
vided in this sub-title.

(b)   Records of Registration. The signature of such Absentee
Resident in subscribing said oath shall be accepted in lieu of the
customary signature of voters in the registration books or cards;
provided, however, that such Absentee Resident shall not be entitled
to be registered if said Board shall determine upon proof or investi-
gation that any of the material information contained in said oath
is not true. The names of all persons whom the Board shall determine
are entitled to be registered under this sub-title shall be written
on the appropriate registration books or cards by the Clerk of the
Board, or by election officials designated by the said Board, and
after each name shall be placed the letters A. R." In addition, the
other information usually placed on the registration books or cards
shall be entered to the extent the same is contained in said oath.
The Board shall retain for a period of three years all oaths of
Absentee Residents registered by them, and such oaths shall be
considered the best evidence of the facts recited therein in any con-
test involving the validity of any registration hereunder.

(c)  Effect of Registration. When properly registered under this
sub-title, an Absentee Resident shall continue as a registered voter
to the same extent and for the same period he would be registered
had he appeared in person and been registered under the provisions
of the election laws in force in Baltimore City, exclusive of this
sub-title.

276. Honorably Discharged Absentee. No honorably discharged
Absentee Resident, referred to in sub-section (d) of Section 268 of
this sub-title, who has been discharged more than one month before
the last registration day prior to an election, shall be entitled to
register under this sub-title. Any honorably discharged Absentee
Resident, referred to in said sub-section (d), who has been dis-
charged later than one month before the last registration day prior