3961

TAKOMA PARK

PRINTED THE RETURN ADDRESS OF THE CITY CLERK AND IN
BOLDFACE TYPE THE WORDS "OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT, CITY
OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND."

(8)    INSTRUCTION TO VOTERS. THE PRINTED
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CASTING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS SHALL BE
AS PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF
ELECTION LAWS.

(9)    CANVASSING OF BALLOTS.

(I)    OPENING OR UNFOLDING BALLOTS. THE
JUDGES AND CLERKS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL SHALL NOT OPEN
OR UNFOLD ANY ABSENTEE BALLOT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE
POLLS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE CANVASS OF THE ABSENTEE
BALLOTS.

(II)   PROCEDURE GENERALLY: AT ANY TIME AFTER
THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS AND NOT LATER THAN THE CANVASS
OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE REGULAR POLLING PLACES IN THE
CITY AT ANY ELECTION, THE JUDGES AND CLERKS OF ELECTION
SHALL MEET AT A PLACE TO BE DETERMINED BY THEM AND SHALL
PROCEED TO COUNT, CERTIFY AND CANVASS THE ABSENTEE
BALLOTS CONTAINED IN THE BALLOT ENVELOPES RECEIVED BY
THEM PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.
NO BALLOT SHALL BE REJECTED BY THE JUDGES AND CLERKS OF
ELECTION EXCEPT BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL JUDGES AND
CLERKS OF ELECTION. ALL VOTERS' APPLICATIONS,
CERTIFICATIONS, BALLOT ENVELOPES AND BALLOTS SHALL BE
KEPT SEPARATE AND APART FROM BALLOTS CAST IN THE REGULAR
VOTING PLACES AND RETAINED FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DATE
OF ELECTION AT WHICH THEY WERE CAST, UNLESS PRIOR TO THAT
TIME, THE CITY CLERK SHALL BE ORDERED BY A COURT OF
COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO KEEP THE SAME FOR ANY LONGER
PERIOD.

(III)  BALLOT VOTED FOR PERSON WHO HAS CEASED
TO BE A CANDIDATE. ANY ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTED FOR A
PERSON WHO HAS CEASED TO BE A CANDIDATE SHALL NOT BE
COUNTED FOR SUCH CANDIDATE, BUT SUCH VOTE SHALL NOT
INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF SUCH BALLOT.

(IV)   VOTER DYING BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
WHENEVER THE JUDGES AND CLERKS OF ELECTION SHALL
DETERMINE FROM PROOF OR INVESTIGATION THAT ANY PERSON WHO
HAS MARKED AND TRANSMITTED OR DEPOSITED IN PERSON WITH
THE CITY CLERK AN ABSENTEE BALLOT HAS DIED BEFORE
ELECTION DAY, SAID JUDGES AND CLERKS OF ELECTION SHALL
NOT COUNT THE BALLOT OF THE DECEASED VOTER, BUT IT SHALL
BE PRESERVED BY THE CITY CLERK FOR SIX MONTHS AND MAY
THEN BE DESTROYED UNLESS, PRIOR TO THAT TIME, THE CITY
CLERK IS ORDERED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO
KEEP THE SAME FOR ANY LONGER PERIOD. IF AT OR PRIOR TO
THE TIME OF SUCH COUNTING AND CANVASSING, THE JUDGES AND