SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                       893

and the number on the protective counter, if one is provided, of
each voting machine used in each election precinct or district in
each election; it shall open the counter compartment of each such
machine and without unlocking such machine against voting, shall
verify the votes cast thereon. In the case of voting machines which
have provided a printed or photographic record of the numbers reg-
istered on the counters by voting the board shall verify the votes
cast as shown by the printed or photographic record pertaining to
each such machine used in each election precinct or district in each
election. Before making any verification, the board shall give notice,
in writing, to the custodian of the voting machines and to the chair-
man of the state central committee of each party in the counties or
in Baltimore City which shall have nominated candidates for any
general election or shall have candidates for nomination at any
primary election. Each of the said chairmen shall have the right to
appoint and designate two representatives who shall each have the
right personally to examine and make a copy of the vote recorded on
the machines.

(b)    If upon such verification, it shall be found that the original
returns have been incorrectly made from any machine or machines,
a statement in writing shall be prepared, giving in detail as to
each such machine, the result of the verification. Such statement
shall be witnessed by the persons present and shall be filed with the
other returns of said election. This return shall thereupon supersede
the returns filed by the judges of the election precinct in which the
unofficial count was made.

(c)    If during the verification, any discrepancy cannot be rec-
onciled, the board, after the expiration of the time within which
petition for recount may be made, with the assistance of the cus-
todian of the machine, shall unlock the voting and counting mecha-
nism of the machine. In the presence of the authorized repre-
sentative present, they shall proceed to thoroughly examine and
test the machine to determine and reveal the true cause or causes,
if any, of the discrepancy in the returns from such machine. Before
testing the counters, they shall be reset at zero, after which each
counter shall be operated at least one hundred times. After the
completion of such examination and test, the custodian shall then
and there prepare a statement, in writing, giving in detail the
result thereof, and such statement shall be witnessed by the persons
present and shall be filed in the office of the board.

17-5. Certified copies of returns.

(a)    On the second Tuesday after any election or, if the canvass
is completed after this time, within forty-eight hours after its com-
pletion, the board of canvassers shall transmit the statements made
by them, attested by the signature of their chairman and secretary,
to the clerk of the circuit court for the county or to the Clerk of the
Superior Court of Baltimore City, as the case may be, who shall
enter the same of record. The clerks of the circuit courts for the
counties and the Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore City shall
send a copy of these statements to the Secretary of State.

(b)    In all general elections where votes have been cast for can-
didates for any offices by the writing-in of such candidates' names
on the ballots, it shall not be necessary for the board of canvassers
to transmit a statement of returns as to such write-in candidates