HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2765

(2) A VOTING MACHINE may be opened and the data and
figures [therein] IN IT examined in the presence of the officer
having the custody of such machine upon the order of any court of
competent jurisdiction, or by direction of any legislative
committee to investigate and report upon contested elections
affected by the use of such machine.

(B)  If within [two] 2 days after the results of the canvass
are declared official, the board shall receive notice in writing
of any contest over the result of [said] THE election, then such
board, within [five] 5 days from the receipt of such notice and
in the presence of the principals involved in any such contest or
their authorized representatives, shall [proceed to] inspect and
examine the voting machines containing the votes cast for such
contested office, and shall make a record of the votes for such
office upon [said] THOSE machines.

(C)  Such record shall be received as evidence as fully as
if proved by the oral testimony of the persons who shall sign the
same, or by the production of said voting machines in court or
before said board.

(D)  After such inspection, examination, and recording of
the results [thereof], and after permission to release the voting
machines has been granted by the State Administrative Board of
Election Laws, the [said] voting machines shall be released and
made available for use in any succeeding election.

18-1.

(a) (1) The Secretary of State, Comptroller, State
Treasurer, Clerk of the Court of Appeals and Attorney General
shall constitute the Board of State Canvassers, three of whom
shall be a quorum.

(2) The State Administrator of Election Laws shall
serve as secretary to the Board.

(b) (1) The State Administrator of Election Laws shall
convene the meeting of the Board of State Canvassers to be held
at his office within [30] 35 days after any State election, or
any election at which a candidate for member of the Congress of
the United States is to be elected.

(2) If a majority does not attend, those present
shall adjourn until the next day, at which time they shall
proceed, without further delay, to canvass the votes.

(c)  (1) The Board of State Canvassers, when thus formed,
shall, from the certified copies of the statements made by the
boards of city and county canvassers, [proceed to] make a
statement of the whole number of votes given at such election for
the several candidates for the federal and State offices named in
the statements whose candidacy was filed with the State