Marvin Mandel, Governor                         343

(a)  At the general or congressional election to be held in the
month of November, 1972, when there will be submitted to the
voters of Harford County a proposed new charter under Article
XI-A of the Constitution of Maryland, there shall also be a primary
election for the nomination of candidates for election to the County
Council and for County Executive of Harford County. A vote cast
against the adoption of the charter shall not be held to bar the voter
from expressing his choice in this primary election. If a majority
of the votes cast on the question of adoption of the charter are
against adoption, the results of this primary election shall be void
and of no further effect.

(b)   If a majority of the votes cast on the question of adoption
of the charter are cast for adoption, the several persons nominated
in this primary election, together with those nominated by petition,
shall be certified by the Board of Supervisors of Elections of Harford
County as the candidates for County Council and for County Execu-
tive of Harford County at the special election to be held thereafter
on December 12, 1972, as provided in the proposed new charter.

(c)   The Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Super-
visors of Elections of Harford County shall do such things as are
necessary and proper to conduct the primary election as herein
required and the special election to be held thereafter, as aforesaid,
if the proposed new charter is adopted. The said primary and
special elections shall be held and conducted in general conformity
with the provisions of Article 33 of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1971 Replacement Volume, 1971 Supplement) insofar as the
requirements thereof are reasonably applicable and practicable and,
in case of conflict with other laws respecting elections, the provi-
sions of this Chapter shall govern, including the following specifically
authorized variations:

1)   The final day for filing certificates of candidacy, and petitions
in the case of nomination by petition, shall be 9:00 P.M. on the
Monday which is ten weeks or seventy days prior to the date of
the primary election authorized hereunder. The validity of nomina-
tions by petition shall be determined by said Board.

2)  The use of paper ballots to such extent as may be deemed
necessary or advisable by the Board of Supervisors of Elections for
Harford County is hereby authorized.

3)  Upon the determination and declaration of the nominees by the
Board of Supervisors of Elections of Harford County pursuant to
Section 17-6 of Article 33 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the
Board is authorized and directed to prepare immediately the ballot
for the special election to be held on December 12, 1972.

4)   In the event that the voting machines used in Harford County
in the general election of November, 1972, are not released on or
before November 25, 1972, under the provisions of Section 17-8
of Article 33 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board of
Supervisors of Elections is authorized to lease a sufficient number
of voting machines to conduct fairly said special election.

5)  The results and conduct of the special election herein author-
ized shall not be affected by the failure of custodians and deputy
custodians to give the required notice and to prepare voting ma-