886                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 392

provided herein for the examination of counters to ascertain that
all are set at zero (000); (3) The judges shall inspect the face
of every machine to make sure the proper ballot labels are in proper
places, and that the machine is otherwise ready for use.

(c)    If after such an inspection the judges shall find the machine
to be in proper order, they shall sign a certificate to that effect, which
shall be returned to the board 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.

(d)    The machine shall remain locked against voting until the
polls are opened, and shall not be operated except by voters in voting.

(e)    If any counter is found not to register zero (000), the judges
shall immediately notify the custodian, or the board who shall, if
practicable, 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 board to arrive in time so as to adjust
such counter before the time set for opening the polls, the judges
shall immediately make a written record of the designation or des-
ignating letter or number of each counter, together with the numbers
registered thereon, hereinbelow called the initial numbers, and shall
sign and post the same upon the wall of the polling place, where it
shall remain until the polls are closed; if the machine is so con-
structed as to furnish a printed or photographic record of the setting
of the counters and the numbers registered thereon by voting and
if it shall be found impracticable for the custodian or other person
authorized by the board to arrive in time so as to adjust such counter
before the time set for opening the polls there shall be posted as
above provided in lieu of the written record of the judges the printed
or photographic record of the counter setting furnished by the ma-
chine. 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 substract 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 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.

(f)    The exterior of the voting machine, and every part of the
polling place shall be in plain view of the judges and watchers.
Every voting machine shall be located in the polling place, in such a
position that, unless its construction shall require otherwise, the ballot
can be seen plainly by the judges and watchers when the machine
is not occupied by a voter. The judges shall not themselves be, nor
allow any other person to be, in any position that will permit one
to see or ascertain how a voter votes, or how he has voted. The said
judges, or one of them, shall inspect the face of the machine at
frequent intervals, to see that the ballot labels are in their proper
places, and that the machine has not been damaged or tampered with.

(g)    During an election, the door or other covering of the com-
partment containing the counters of the machine, shall not be un-