Ch. 437

LAWS OF MARYLAND

SUBSTANTIATE THE APPLICATION OR CHALLENGE BY AFFIRMATIVE PROOF;
AND

[(C) Persons] (3) BY CERTIFIED MAIL SEND THE NOTICE BY
CERTIFIED MAIL OF THE HEARING AND REASON THEREFOR TO THE PERSON
whose right to register has been challenged [and persons] OR
whose [names are] NAME IS alleged to have been erroneously
omitted or dropped from the registration [lists shall be given
written notice, sent by mail,] LIST. THIS NOTICE SHALL BE
addressed to the [voter at the last] PERSON'S MOST RECENT address
[given on his] AS REFLECTED BY THE registration [form] RECORDS.
Any [voter] PERSON so notified may appear in person or by
counsel.

(d) (1) The board OR BOARD of registry shall [sit for the
purpose of] CONDUCT THE hearing [applications for changes in
such registration lists, or challenges of the right to vote on
such lists. They shall meet on the Tuesday fourteen weeks before
an election at such hours as the board may designate. If all
such applications or challenges be not determined on that day,
they shall sit during the same hours on succeeding days until all
cases are heard and decided. If it is not possible to hear all
such cases within two days, the board may appoint one or more
boards of registry, each consisting of two members of opposite
political parties, to aid in hearing such applications or
challenges at a rate of compensation fixed as provided in § 2-6
of this article] ON EACH APPLICATION AND CHALLENGE.

(2)  THE WILLFUL FAILURE OF THE APPLICANT OR
CHALLENGER TO APPEAR AT A HEARING UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
PUNISHABLE BY THE PENALTIES PROVIDED IN § 24-27 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(3)  At the request of either party, OR ON ITS OWN
MOTION, the board shall issue subpoenas to witnesses to appear
AND TESTIFY at [such] THE hearings[, who].

(4)  WITNESSES AT THE HEARINGS shall be sworn [and
examined].

(E) (1) All cases shall be decided [immediately] PROMPTLY
after hearing.

(2)  No [voter as to whom an application or a
challenge has been made] PERSON shall be removed from the
registration lists unless the [application or challenge] PERSON'S
INELIGIBILITY is substantiated by affirmative proof. In the
absence of such proof, the presumption shall be that the [voter
as to whom the application or challenge was made] PERSON is
properly registered.

(3)  WHENEVER A BOARD OR BOARD OF REGISTRY DETERMINES,
AFTER A HEARING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THAT A PERSON SHOULD BE
ADDED TO OR REMOVED FROM THE REGISTRATION LISTS, THE BOARD

      - 2152 -