PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 679

supervisors of elections to begin the process of canvassing absentee ballots.

FOR the purpose of altering the requirements for the timing of the canvass of absentee ballots;
and requiring that each local board of supervisors of elections post notice in a certain
manner regarding the date and time of the canvass.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 33 - Election Code
Section 27-9(a) and (b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1993 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 33 - Election Code

27-9.

(a)     The board shall not open [or unfold] any absentee ballot at any time prior to
[the closing of the polls] 10 AM. ON THE THURSDAY WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING
ELECTION DAY.

(b)     (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), at any time after [4 p.m. on
the Wednesday following election day] 10 AM. ON THE THURSDAY 12 NOON 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) (I) EACH BOARD SHALL GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE SPECIFIC DATE
AND TIME ON WHICH THE CANVASS SHALL BEGIN. THE NOTICE SHALL BE POSTED AT
THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD AT LEAST 10 WORKING DAYS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE
CANVASS.

(II) The canvass may not be completed until all absentee ballots that
have been received timely have been counted.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1996.

Approved May 23, 1996.

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