Counties be of the United States and the laws of this state; having this day assembled at the usual place of the sitting of the circuit court of said county, with the books of the polls, on which are endorsed the several certificates required by law, and having cast up the whole number of votes given in said districts, according to the respective certificates made out by the judges, do return that — had votes and votes. Given under our hands this — day had of November, in the year of our Lord eighteen and 16. And be it enacted, that in all cases where a county ing divided to has been or shall be divided for the purpose of forming a form Congres sional or elec- district to elect a member or members to the congress of the toral distrtets to be made. -how returns United States, or to elect an elector or electors to choose the president and vice-president of the United States, the judges, in making the return aforesaid, shall designate therein, that the said districts, at which they presided as judges, are part of district No.-, as laid out by law to choose a member to represent this state in the Congress of the United States, or are part of district No. as laid out by law to elect electors to choose the president and vice-president of the United States (as the case may require.) Judges meeting to make returns if not 17. And be it enacted, that if at the time appointed for the assembling of the said judges, any of them should be preall assembled. vented from attending, in such case the judge or judges who shall attend, may adjourn from day to day, until the judges required to meet shall all assemble, immediately after which they shall proceed to perform the duties required as aforesaid. Judges to lodge the books of polls and a certifi cate with the clerk of the county. 18. And be it enacted, that the judges aforesaid shall respectively lodge with the clerk of the county, within one day from the meeting as aforesaid, the books of the polls of all the districts in said county, together with a certificate of all the votes given in the said districts; and the said judges shall also, within the time aforesaid, cause one other certificate, made out by them as aforesaid to be enclosed, sealed up and diCertificate to rected to the governor, endorsed "on public service," and be sent to the placed in the post-office at the place of meeting as aforesaid, Council. in case there shall be a post-office there, and if none there, then in the next convenient post-office thereto, to be transmitted to the governor. Governor and counties to of, and return 20. And be it enacted, that the said respective county Clerks of clerks, with whom the said certificates and polls are lodged, make copies shall under the penalty of one hundred dollars, make out a certificatestrue copy of the said certificate lodged with him by the penalty for neglect. judges aforesaid, of all the votes, under the seal of his office, within five days after the same shall be as aforesaid deposited, and the same when made out, enclose and seal up, directed to the governor, endorsed "on public service," to be by the said clerk, within the time last mentioned, placed in the post-office aforesaid, and to be transmitted as aforesaid. second time or 25. And be it enacted, that if any person at any election, Persons offerhaving voted once, shall offer to vote again in the same dis- ing to vote a trict or county, he shall be subject to a penalty of ten dollars otherwise for such offence; or if any person shall offer to vote, in any fraud,-penal committing name not his own, or in the place of any other person of the ty. 26. And be it enacted, that if any person shall vote twice Persons voting at one election, he shall be liable to a presentment in the twice; penalty; how to be circuit court of the county where he may reside, and may be recovered. fined not exceeding forty dollars, and imprisoned not exceeding one month, in the discretion of the court. Candidates or practising 27. And be it enacted, that if any candidate, or other person or persons, shall practice force and violence, with in- other persons tent to influence, unduly, or to overawe, interrupt or hinder, force or vioany election to be held in virtue of this act, every person so lence; penalty offending shall, on conviction thereof in the circuit court of the county wherein such offences shall be committed, suffer such fine, not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, and such imprisonment not exceeding fifty days, as the court in their discretion shall adjudge. 28. And be it enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any Officers not to commissioned or non-commissioned officer, having the com- muster troops, &c.- penalty. mand of any soldier or soldiers quartered or posted in any district of any county in this state, to muster or embody any of the said troops, or to march any recruiting party, within the view of any place of election, during the time of holding said election, under the penalty of one hundred dollars. Candidates or 29. And be it enacted, that if any candidate, at an elecother persons tion to be held in virtue of this act, or any other person or penalty. persons whatever, shall give or bestow, or directly or indi not to bribe County clerks tificates-fees ied. rectly promise, any gift or reward, to secure any person's vote or ballot at any such election, or shall keep or suffer to be kept any house, tent, booth or other accommodation, in any part of any district at any time during the day of holding such election, and before the close thereof, at his or their expense; where any victuals or intoxicating liquors shall be gratuitously given or dealt out to voters, every such person or candidate so offending, shall, on conviction thereof in the circuit court of the county wherein such offence may be committed, be fined, at the discretion of the court, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and suffer such imprisonment as the court may adjudge, not exceeding six months. 30. And be it enacted, that the clerks of the respective to endorse cer- counties shall endorse on the certificates and polls to be dehow to be lev-livered to them as aforesaid, the day when received, and shall be allowed, as a compensation for making out and forwarding the copies of said certificates to the governor aforesaid, the same compensation as is allowed for like services, to be levied and paid for by the county as his other fees. Fines & pen be recovered 36. And be it enacted, that all fines and penalties created alties-how to and imposed by this act, unless herein otherwise particularly and applied. directed and provided for, shall and may be recovered in the name of the state, by indictment in the circuit court of the county wherein the same shall accrue, and be applied, one half thereof to the use of the informer, and the other half to the use of the county, and it shall be the duty of the clerk of turn lists an- such county to return, annually, to the county commissioners, nually. a list of all fines and penalties recovered by virtue of this act. Clerks to re CHAPTER 204. A Supplement to an Act, entitied "An Act to reduce into one the several Passed Jan. 7, Acts of Assembly respecting Elections, and to regulate said Elections." 1812. any reward to 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, Penalty on that if any candidate, or any other person or persons what-persons giving ever, shall, at any time before, or on the day of any election secure votes. to be held in virtue of the law to which this is a supplement, give or bestow, or directly or indirectly promise any gift or reward to secure any person's vote or ballot at any such election, any such person or candidate so offending, shall, on conviction thereof in the circuit court of the county wherein such offence may be committed, be fined at the discretion of the court a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and suffer such imprisonment as the court may adjudge, not exceeding six months. covered. 2. And be it enacted that all fines and penalties created How to be reand imposed by this act, shall be recovered in the same manner as fines and penalties are, by the act to which this is a supplement. CHAPTER 174. An Act empowering the Judges of Elections to administer Oaths appertain- Passed Feb'y. ing to Elections. 14, 1820. minister oaths cases. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Maryland, Judges of elec that it shall and may be lawful for the several judges of tion may adelections within this state, to administer an oath, or an affir- in certain mation, in any inquiry which they may deem necessary to be made touching the right of any person offering to vote, and if any person or persons shall swear or affirm falsely and corruptly, in relation thereto, such person or persons shall, upon conviction thereof, suffer the pains and penalties provided for those convicted of perjury. ["The Constitution has altered and otherwise rendered inoperative parts of the foregoing acts," not however, necessary to be noticed by the judges of elections.] Passed May 25, 1852. Act of 1805, The following Act was passed at the Session of the General Assembly of 1852: CHAPTER 183. An Act pursuant to the sixth section of the tenth article of the Constitution, relative to Judges of Elections. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of chap. 97, in Maryland, that the act entitled, an act to reduce into one the not altered by several acts of Assembly repecting elections, and to regulate force, so far as this act. said elections, passed at the session of eighteen hundred and five, chapter ninety-seven, and the several supplements thereto, shall be in force and have effect in all elections, held pursuant to the present Constitution, so far as the same are applicable, and are not altered or supplied by this act. Judges to be SEC. 2. And be it enacted, that the judges of elections appointed an- shall be appointed annually, that is to say, those for the nually several counties, by the county commissioners; and for the city of Baltimore, by the Mayor, and a convention of the two branches of the city council, as city officers are now appointed. Oath. Return judge in five days. SEC. 3. And be it enacted, that the several judges may administer the oath, required to be taken, to each other, or take the same before a justice of the peace, and their clerks may either be sworn by one of the judges, or before a justice of the peace. SEC. 4. And be it enacted, that the returning judges shall to make return make their returns in five days after each election, or sooner, if practicable; and such returns shall be made in the several counties to the respective Clerks of the Circuit Courts, and in the city of Baltimore, to the Clerk of the Superior Court of that city. Repealed. SEC. 5. And be it enacted, that the twenty-third section of the act first aforesaid, which requires the Mayor of the city of Baltimore, to cause public notice to be given of elections, (except so far as relates to elections of the Mayor and city council,) be, and the same is hereby repealed. |