3566                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 755

(e)  In case such petition relates to any other office than
those above referred to, such case shall be heard by a judge or
an uneven number of judges, who shall file immediately with the
Governor his or their decision or the finding or verdict of the
jury in cases where there has been a jury trial, as to whether or
not the successful candidate, or his agent or agents acting for
or in his behalf, engaged in any prohibited practice. Said trial
judge or judges shall also file with the Governor his or their
decision, and as to whether or not, upon the findings in such
case, such election was void as hereinafter provided.

(f)  In case the decision or finding filed with the Governor
under the provisions of subsection (e) above shall be that any
successful candidate so petitioned against in person, or in the
person of his agent or agents acting for or in his behalf,
engaged in prohibited practices, such election shall be void,
except as hereinafter provided, and in case of such void election
the Governor shall, within five days after the receipt of such
decision, issue his proclamation declaring such election void,
and the vacancy in the office to have been filled by said
election shall be filled in the same manner as would be required
by law in case said vacancy had arisen from the death of the
successful candidate after his election.]

[26-19.

The courts in which a proceeding under § 2.6-18 of this
article shall be filed shall have authority to tax the costs as
in equity cases, and also to subpoena witnesses and require them
to testify as in other civil cases, and to compel by subpoena
duces tecum the production for examination of any books or papers
of any kind, or of any other thing which may be required or
desirable in the conduct of such inquiry. In any proceeding held
under the provisions of § 26-18, no witness shall be excused from
answering any question or producing any book, paper or other
thing on the ground or claim that his answer or the thing
produced, or to be produced by him, may tend to incriminate or
degrade him, or render him liable to a penalty, but his answer,
or the thing produced by him shall not be used in any proceeding
against him, except in a prosecution for perjury in so
testifying.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1985.

Approved May 28,, 1985.