2766                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 564

Administrative Board of Election Laws and of the whole number of
votes for and against continuance of an appellate judge in
office.

(2)  The Board of State Canvassers then shall
determine and declare what candidates, by the greatest number of
votes, have been elected to each office and what judges, by the
greater number of votes for than against, have been continued in
office.

(3)  The Board shall make and subscribe on a proper
statement a certificate of such determination, and shall deliver
the same to the Administrative Board.

(d)  If any of the canvassers shall dissent from the
decision of the Board of State Canvassers, he shall state in
writing, the reason for such dissent.

(2)  If any of the acts or proceedings of the Board of
State Canvassers shall appear to any one of the canvassers to be
irregular and illegal, such canvasser shall protest the same, in
writing, setting forth distinctly the grounds of his protest; the
canvasser so dissenting or protesting shall deliver his dissent
or protest, signed with his proper name, to the said State
Administrative Board, which shall file the same in its office.

(3)  The said Administrative Board shall also keep on
file in its office the copies of the statements made by the board
of city and county canvassers.

(e)  The Board of State Canvassers shall have power to
adjourn, from day to day, during a period not exceeding five
days.

27-9.

(a) The board shall not open or unfold any absentee ballot
at any time prior to the closing of the polls [and the beginning
of the canvass of the absentee ballots].

[(b) (1) At SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (2),
AT any time after 4 p.m. on the Wednesday following election day
and not later than the canvass of the votes cast at the regular
voting places in this State at any election, the several boards
shall meet at the usual place for holding the circuit court for
the county or at the usual offices of the board and shall proceed
to count, certify and canvass the absentee ballots contained in
the ballot envelopes.] Each board of canvassers shall keep the
ballots safe from tampering until the canvass is completed. THE
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS AND THE SEVERAL
BOARDS SHALL TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE AND FEASIBLE STEPS TO PROTECT
THE PRIVACY OF ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

(2) THE CANVASS MAY NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL ALL
ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED TIMELY HAVE BEEN
COUNTED.