MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

157

only one general return sheet under certain
conditions; and providing that this Act is an
emergency measure.

BY adding to

Article 33 — Election Code

Section 16—18

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 16-18 be and it is hereby
added to Article 33 — Election Code, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1975
Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 33 - Election Code

16-18.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS TITLE OR
OF §14-1 PERTAINING TO THE USE OF THREE RETURN SHEETS, A
LOCAL BOARD MAY ADOPT A PROCEDURE USING A SINGLE GENERAL
RETURN SHEET UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

(1) AT LEAST 25 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION THE
LOCAL BOARD SHALL ADVISE THE STATE BOARD OF ITS INTENTION
TO UTILIZE A SINGLE GENERAL RETURN SHEET FOR EACH
DISTRICT, WARD OR PRECINCT; AND

(2) THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BOARD      SHALL

SIGN A CERTIFICATION THAT EVERY COUNTER USED    IN THE

ELECTION HAS BEEN CANVASSED AND VERIFIED BY THE      BOARD;
AND

(3) AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTING THE     CERTIFIED

COPIES OF RETURNS REQUIRED BY SECTION 17-5,   THE LOCAL

BOARD SHALL FURNISH A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATION   SPECIFIED
IN (2) ABOVE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
health and safety and having been passed by a yea and nay
vote supported by three—fifths of all the members elected
to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, the
same shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 1, 1976.

CHAPTER 83