MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

1919

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 AND WITH THE HALL
OF RECORDS, [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.] COPIES OF THESE REPORTS, STATEMENTS AND

ACCOUNTS CERTIFIED BY THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE

OFFICER IN WHOSE OFFICE THEY ARE KEPT UNDER THE SEAL OF

HIS OFFICE SHALL BE EVIDENCE IN ANY COURT TO THE SAME

EXTENT AS THE ORIGINAL REPORT, STATEMENT OR ACCOUNT WOULD
BE IF PRODUCED AND PROVED.

The State Administrative Board of Election Laws and
the several boards shall [cause to be retained in their
respective offices for two years all certificates of
candidacy and of nomination filed with them under the
provisions of this article. All such certificates shall

be open to public inspection.] RECEIVE, FILE AND

PRESERVE ALL CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION

WHICH ARE FILED WITH THEM UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS

ARTICLE. THESE CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND OF

NOMINATION SHALL BE KEPT AS PART OF THE RECORDS OF THE

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 CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION 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 CERTIFICATES OF

CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION SHALL BE SUBJECT AND OPEN TO
INSPECTION BY ANY CITIZEN OF THIS STATE DURING THE HOURS
IN WHICH THE OFFICE IN WHICH THE "CERTIFICATES OF
CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION ARE KEPT IS OPEN. THEREAFTER
THE CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION 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. COPIES OF THESE

CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION CERTIFIED BY
THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN WHOSE OFFICE THEY
ARE KEPT UNDER THE SEAL OF HIS OFFICE SHALL BE EVIDENCE

IN ANY COURT TO THE SAME EXTENT AS THE ORIGINAL

CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY AND OF NOMINATION WOULD BE IF

PRODUCED AND PROVED.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1976.