814

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 255

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 § 17-5, the local Board shall furnish a copy
of the certification specified in PARAGRAPH (2) [above] OF THIS
SECTION.

17-4.

(a) (1) Within ten days after each election, each board as
a part of its canvass shall verify the votes cast on the voting
machines. The paper roll shall be inspected for votes cast for
write-in candidates, and a tabulation of all such votes cast
shall become a part of the official canvass. In the case of
voting machines which have not provided a printed or photographic
record of the numbers registered on the counters by voting, the
board shall make a record of the number of the seal and the
number on the protective counter, if one is provided, of each
voting machine used in each election precinct or district in each
election; it shall open the counter compartment of each machine
and without unlocking the machine against voting, shall verify
the votes cast.

In the case of voting machines which have provided a printed
or photographic record of the numbers registered on the counters
by voting the board shall verify the votes cast as shown by the
printed or photographic record pertaining to each machine used in
each election precinct or district in each election. Before
making any verification, the board shall give notice, in writing,
to the custodian of the voting machines, to the chairman of the
central committee of any party in the counties or in Baltimore
City which shall have nominated candidates for any general
election or shall have candidates for nomination at any primary
election and to every candidate who is not a candidate or nominee
of a political party, each of whom has the right to appoint and
designate two representatives who each have the right personally
to examine and make a copy of the vote recorded on the machines.

(2) Upon completion of verification 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.