812

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 255

official, any candidate for a nomination or for delegate to any
convention or for member of a central committee or position who
has been defeated on the face of the [returns,] RETURNS may
petition the board for an appeal from and review of the action
and decision of the judges in counting the ballots and for a
recanvass and recount of the ballots cast in any or all of the
precincts of any county or Baltimore City or ward or legislative
district or political division therein. If the candidate was a
candidate for a State office or for Congress or for judge he may
petition for said recount in two or more counties or legislative
districts or wards or precincts of Baltimore City simultaneously.

13-4.

(a) The board after receiving the petition shall ascertain
the votes recorded on the voting machines in the manner provided
in § 17-8 of this article; or, if paper ballots were used, the
board shall collect the ballot boxes, returns, tally sheets and
paraphernalia of the election; or if punchcard ballots were used
in Montgomery County, the board shall collect the punchcards,
printouts and paraphernalia of the election. It shall proceed
[forthwith] FORTHWITH, in a summary way without answer, pleading
or technicality and without requiring any evidence to be taken or
proof submitted, to recount the ballots in those precincts named
in the petition in any county, city, legislative district, ward
or other political subdivision thereof, as the case may be.

(1)  The review, recount and recanvass of voting
machines shall be conducted by the board in the manner provided
in § 17-4 of this article on the days and within the hours
provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2)  The review, recount and recanvass of paper
ballots or punchcard ballots (for any election at which the use
of such ballots has been authorized in Montgomery County by the
State Administrative Board of Election Laws pursuant to § 16A-1
of this article) shall be conducted with all possible expedition
and dispatch and in preference to all other business, under such
mode of procedure as the board shall prescribe by means of
tellers approved by them on the recommendation of and with equal
representation to the opposing candidates. The board shall pass
upon and decide whether any ballot contested by the teller for
either side shall be rejected or counted. The members of the
board shall sit for this purpose in the office of the board or in
the courtroom of the circuit court for the county, as the case
may be, every day, excepting Sunday, at least from 9 o'clock a.m.
to 5 o'clock p.m., with one hour's intermission for lunch, until
the review, recount and recanvass is completed.

14-1.

(d) The board shall [deliver] DELIVER, not more than three
days and not less than one day preceding the election, ballot
boxes for each precinct and other equipment and supplies required
for the election, together with a sealed package of ballots,