Ch. 398                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

27-8.

The printed instructions for the casting of absentee ballots
shall be prescribed by the State Administrative Board of Election
Laws and it shall prescribe separate instructions for' paper
ballots [or], ALL TYPES OF punch card ballots AND BALLOTS THAT
ARE OTHER COMPUTER READ DOCUMENTS.

27-9.

(c)(1) Except as provided in subsection (d), a ballot
shall be considered as received timely provided:

(i) It has been received by the board prior to
the closing of the polls on election day; or

(ii) 1. It was mailed before election day;

2. The United States Postal Service, AN
ARMY POST OFFICE, A FLEET POST OFFICE, or the postal service of
any other country, has provided verification of that fact by
affixing a mark so indicating on the covering envelope; and

3. The board receives the ballot from the
United States Postal Service not later than 4 p.m. on the
Wednesday following election day.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (d), any ballot
received after the deadline established in this subsection may
not be counted.

(d) (1) In a general or special election, a ballot received
from a location outside the United States shall be considered 'as
received timely provided:

(i) It has been received by the board from the
United States Postal Service not later than 4 p.m. on the second
Friday following the election day; and

(ii) 1. It was mailed before election day; and

2. The United States Postal Service, AN
ARMY POST OFFICE, A FLEET POST OFFICE, or the postal service of
any other country, has provided verification of that fact by
affixing a mark so indicating on the covering envelope.

(2)  Any ballot received by mail after the deadline
established in this subsection may not be counted.

(3)  The commencement of the counting and canvassing
process may not be delayed to await receipt of ballots under this
subsection.

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