1918                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                            Ch. 699

or the committee, the treasurer, an identification of the
missing report, and, if a final report, a notation of the
amount of any outstanding balance, bills or deficits as
shown on the last report filed. The officer or board
shall file a copy of this permanent record with the State
Administrative Board of Election Laws.] UNTIL THE NEXT
ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE TO WHICH THEY RELATE, AT WHICH
TIME THESE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS SHALL BE
TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE HALL OF RECORDS WHERE THEY SHALL
BE PERMANENTLY MAINTAINED. All reports, statements and
accounts shall, during the hours for which the office in
which they are filed is open, be subject and open to
inspection of any citizen of this State. Copies of the
reports, statements or accounts certified by and under
the seal of the principal administrative officer in whose
office they are kept, shall be evidence in all the courts
to the same extent as the original thereof would be if
produced and proved.]]

[Every officer or board with whom reports,
statements or accounts are required by any section of
this article to be filed, shall receive, file, and
preserve the reports, statements and accounts in his
office, and shall keep all of the same as part of the
records of his office for at least two years after the
election to which they relate or for at least one year
after the date for the filing of the final report or
statement required by Section 26—11 in connection with
that election, whichever is later, or for longer if so
ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.] EVERY
OFFICER OR BOARD SHALL RECEIVE, FILE AND PRESERVE ALL
REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS RELATING TO CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO BE
FILED BY THIS ARTICLE. THESE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND
ACCOUNTS SHALL BE KEPT AS PART OF THE RECORDS OF THE
OFFICER OR BOARD FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS OR
FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR BEYOND THE LENGTH OF THE TERM OF
THE PUBLIC OR PARTY OFFICE FOR WHICH EVERY CANDIDATE TO
WHOM THESE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, OR ACCOUNTS APPLY, HAS
OFFERED HIMSELF FOR NOMINATION OR ELECTION, REGARDLESS IF
THE CANDIDATE IS SUCCESSFUL, UNSUCCESSFUL, OR RESIGNS, OR
FOR A LONGER PERIOD IF ORDERED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION. THESE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS
SHALL BE SUBJECT AND OPEN TO INSPECTION BY ANY CITIZEN OF
THIS STATE DURING THE HOURS IN WHICH THE OFFICE IN WHICH
THE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS ARE KEPT IS OPEN.
THEREAFTER, THE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS SHALL
BE TRANSFERRED TO THE HALL OF RECORDS WHERE THEY SHALL BE

MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 54, SECTION 10 OF

THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND. Before [disposing of]
TRANSFERRING any reports, statements or accounts TO THE
HALL OF RECORDS, the officer or board with whom they were
filed shall make a permanent record of all election
reports required to have been filed by Section 26-11 but
which have not been filed. The permanent record shall
include the name of the candidate or the committee, the

treasurer, an identification of the missing report, and,

if a final report, a notation of the amount of any