Source: https://www.ecode360.com/9379047
Timestamp: 2018-05-23 16:41:43
Document Index: 246148318

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', 'Art. 1', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37']

Town of Bel Air, MD Elections
§ 37-1 Definitions and word usage.
§ 37-2 Board of Election Judges.
§ 37-3 Polling place; election hours; places of registration.
§ 37-4 Notice of election.
§ 37-5 Registration and qualification of voters.
§ 37-6 General elections.
§ 37-7 Special election or referendum.
§ 37-8 Emergencies.
§ 37-9 Sample ballots.
§ 37-10 General provisions for voting.
§ 37-11 Time allowed for voting.
§ 37-12 Instructions and assistance in voting.
§ 37-13 Challenging right to vote.
§ 37-14 Use of electronic voting system.
§ 37-15 Use of electronically tabulated ballot.
§ 37-16 Use of paper ballot.
§ 37-17 Write-in ballots.
§ 37-18 Absentee voting.
§ 37-19 Voting units.
§ 37-20 Voting unit custody.
§ 37-21 Delivery of units and equipment; preparation for use.
§ 37-22 Closing of polls; tabulation of votes.
§ 37-23 Proclamation of results.
§ 37-24 Contested elections.
§ 37-25 Violations and penalties.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners of the Town of Bel Air 3-11-1980 by Ord. No. 310 as Ch. 5, Art. 1 of the 1980 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 37 : Elections
Words and phrases defined. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A ballot not used in a polling place.
BALLOT or OFFICIAL BALLOT
Includes an absentee ballot, a voting unit ballot or provisional ballot. "Ballot" or "official ballot" does not include a sample ballot or a specimen ballot.
[Amended 3-2-2009 by Ord. No. 719-09]
The Board of Election Judges, as that term is defined in Article V, Section 503 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
Any qualified voter who files written notice, in the form of a certificate of candidacy, of his or her intention to run for the office of Commissioner of Bel Air at least 30 days before a general or special election for Commissioner.
Having a temporary or permanent disability.
The process by which the voters of the Town vote for any candidate pursuant to the laws of the Town or for or against any Charter provisions of the Town or other public act or question pursuant to procedures provided by state statute or by the Town Charter, and shall include all elections, general or special, conducted by the Town.
A computer disk or other information storage and retrieval medium approved by the state.
The election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every odd-numbered year at which the voters of the Town may vote for candidates for the office of Commissioner of Bel Air.
GENERAL RETURN SHEET
The tally sheet signed by the Board of Election Judges for each election recording the votes registered on each voting machine and by absentee ballot or by all ballots, all votes cast for each candidate and for or against each question, the total number of votes and voters, the number of voters who have voted on each voting unit and the number who have voted by absentee ballot.
Programmed to allow access to supervisory functions.
An electronic book or printed book with signature capabilities.
A ballot that is cast by an individual but not counted until the individual's qualifications to vote have been confirmed by the Town's election board.
[Added 3-2-2009 by Ord. No. 719-09]
The act by which a person becomes qualified to vote in any election of the Town.
The form to be filled out and signed by each prospective registrant containing the necessary information to establish his/her eligibility as a voter in Town elections.
A facsimile of the ballot that the voter will use to register his/her vote in the election.
Every election called by resolution of the Commissioners, including but not limited to elections to fill vacancies in the offices of Commissioners pursuant to Article III, Section 307 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air and referendum elections on the question of proposed Charter amendments of the Town as required by state law or as provided in § 37-7 of this chapter. Special elections shall be held in accordance with § 37-7 of this chapter.
The custodian of the voting records of the Town of Bel Air.
The card sent by the Town Clerk or designee to each registrant to establish the fact and date of registration.
VOTING AUTHORITY CARD OR BOOK
The card or book to be signed by each voter at the polls.
VOTING MACHINE CUSTODIAN
The person, Harford County Board of Elections or company contracted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners who or which shall prepare the voting units for use before each election and shall be responsible for keeping such units in good working order and repair during each election and shall store such units locked and their keys sealed and separate for one month after each such election.
The station or booth used in casting and tabulating ballots or votes.
VOTING UNIT BALLOT
A ballot posted on or in the voting unit.
Gender. Whenever in this chapter words or phrases are used denoting the masculine gender, they should be taken to include the feminine gender.
Computation of time. In computing the times for notices to be given or for the performing of any other act under this chapter, Sunday and legal holidays shall be included, except when the day on which the notice should be given or act should be performed occurs on Sunday or on a legal holiday, in which case the notice shall be given or the act performed on the next regular business day following such Sunday or legal holiday. In such computation, the day of giving notice or performing any act and the day of registration or election shall be excluded.
The Board of Town Commissioners shall appoint a three-member Board of Election Judges on or before the first Monday of October in every second even-numbered year for a term of four years in accordance with Article V, Section 503 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air. The Board of Town Commissioners shall appoint one Alternate Election Judge to the Board of Election Judges who may be empowered to act in the absence of a regular Judge on Election Day. The Election Judges shall be qualified voters of the Town and shall not hold a Town office or become candidates for any elective office of the Town or otherwise during their term of office. The Board of Election Judges shall appoint one of its members as Chairman. Any vacancy on the Board of Election Judges shall be appointed by the Commissioners for the remainder of an unexpired term.
[Amended 11-17-2008 by Ord. No. 715-08; 10-5-2009 by Ord. No. 725-09]
As provided in Article V, Section 503 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air, the Board of Election Judges shall be responsible for the supervision of registration of voters or their designees and shall conduct all Town elections and for each special and general election shall provide a suitable place for voting and shall decide all questions on eligibility of voters. The Board shall give four weeks' notice of every election by advertisement published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the Town and by posting a notice thereof at the Town office.
Each Election Judge shall receive compensation as determined by the Board of Town Commissioners for the day of election and any other day the Election Judges are called to work by the Town Clerk.
The Board of Elections shall have the same election powers as the Clerk of the Town of Bel Air and shall provide all supplies and equipment necessary and proper for the registration of voters and the conduct of elections. Expenses incurred by the Board of Election Judges in furnishing supplies and equipment and all other necessary and reasonable expenses of the Board of Election Judges shall be an expenditure of the Town payable as other expenses are payable by the Board of Town Commissioners.
If the voting units are delivered to the voting place prior to election day, the Town Clerk will serve as voting unit custodian for the purpose of securing the units.
Each Election Judge shall take the oath of office as prescribed by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution of Maryland.
The Election Judges may appoint poll workers to assist the Election Judges on the day of the election. All poll workers must meet the eligibility requirements of Election Judges and shall receive compensation as determined by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on the day of the election and any other day the poll worker is called to work by the Town Clerk. Poll workers shall take the oath required of the Election Judges.
Substitution of Election Judges. If any Election Judge shall not be present at the expiration of 15 minutes after the time for the opening of the polls during an election, the Election Judge or Judges present shall fill the place of the absent Judge by appointing in his stead one of the qualified poll workers or a qualified voter of the Town of Bel Air who shall not hold a Town office or be a candidate for any elective office in the Town or otherwise to serve as a substitute for the day of the election only.
After the opening of the polls, no Election Judge shall absent himself therefrom until all the ballots cast shall have been counted and the returns completed except in the case of absolute necessity. If in the case of absolute necessity any Election Judge in attendance shall be compelled to absent himself, he shall appoint one of the qualified poll workers or some fit person, a qualified voter of the Town not holding a Town office or being a candidate for any elective office in the Town or otherwise, to act in his stead until his return, having first administered to such substitute the same oath as he, himself, has taken.
Blank forms for the appointment of substitute judges and for administering the oath aforesaid shall be supplied by the Board of Election Judges. The oath, when administered, shall be preserved and the reason for appointment of the substitute and the time when such substitute began and ceased shall be preserved by the Board of Election Judges in writing. Any substitute shall cease to act whenever the Election Judge in whose stead he was appointed shall be present.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Election Judges to select a suitable polling place(s) as it deems it necessary. If possible, it shall be the duty of the Board of Election Judges to use the Town Hall or other public buildings for such polling places.
The polling places in Bel Air shall be opened by the Board of Election Judges at 7:00 a.m. on the day of the election and the polling places shall remain open until 8:00 p.m. on the same day when the polling places shall be closed.
Places of registration shall be the office of the Harford County Board of Elections and such other places as shall be authorized by Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland, and as determined by the Board of Election Judges.
The Board of Election Judges shall give four weeks' notice of the time and place of every election by advertisement published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the Town and by posting notice thereof at the Town office.
Qualifications. The voters' qualifications shall be as detailed in Article V, Section 501 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
Registration of the voters of the Town of Bel Air shall be conducted by the Harford County Board of Elections as provided through an agreement between the Town of Bel Air and Harford County and in accordance with Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland.
To be eligible to vote in any general or special election, persons qualified to vote but not previously registered to vote may register at any time with the Harford County Board of Elections on regular business days during regular business hours, and other places as shall be authorized by Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland, or determined by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Registration will be closed in accordance with those dates as set by the Harford County Board of Elections as provided in Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland.
The Town Clerk shall publish a weekly notice of the expiration date of the time within which qualified voters may register for any election for at least two weeks prior to such expiration date in a newspaper with circulation within the Town. A person registered in the Town of Bel Air on January 1, 1978, or at any time thereafter is a qualified voter in the Town of Bel Air and shall not be required to register again unless such registration shall be cancelled due to his/her not meeting the voter qualifications in Article V, Section 501 of the Town Charter.
Nonpartisan elections. Elections in the Town of Bel Air are nonpartisan so that each candidate in any election runs without official party designation or affiliation, and no mention of party affiliation shall be designated on any ballots in the general or special elections in the Town of Bel Air.
Qualifications for candidates for Commissioner of Bel Air. A person shall be eligible for election as a Commissioner of Bel Air provided that he meets the qualifications as set forth in Article III, Section 302 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
Filing of certificate of candidacy.
Candidates must file in person and complete a written certificate of candidacy with the Town Clerk of their intention to run for the office of Commissioner at least 30 days before the scheduled election. The hours for filing on the final file date are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A certificate of candidacy may be filed by certified mail, personal messenger, or other delivery service designated by the Town Clerk if the individual filing the certificate is unable to do so in person because of illness or temporary absence from the state and the certificate is accompanied by an affidavit signed by the individual filing the certificate setting forth fully the facts that prevent that individual from filing the certificate in person. A certificate of candidacy may not be filed by facsimile service or other electronic transmission.
The use of nicknames, titles, degrees, or other professional designations on the certificate of candidacy is prohibited. The names of candidates shall be arranged alphabetically on the ballots.
Candidates may withdraw prior to the filing deadline only. The filing fee is not refundable, except as stated in Subsection C(5)(c) below.
In order to help defray the costs of election, each candidate for the office of Commissioner of Bel Air shall pay a nonrefundable fee as set by resolution of the Board of Town Commissioners. Each candidate shall pay such sum to the Town Clerk at the time his written intention to run is filed. Such filing fees shall be used to defray the cost of the election for which they are collected, including the moneys paid the Board of Election Judges for administering such election and the costs of renting voting machines for such election.[1]
The filing fee shall be waived if the candidate establishes his inability to pay at the time and place of filing the certificate. A sworn statement of inability to pay shall set forth the nature, extent and liquidity of the candidate's assets and the disposable net income of the candidate.
In the event that any candidate who has paid a filing fee enters into active duty with the armed services of the United States in the period between the last date allowed for withdrawal of his name as a candidate and the printing of the ballots or the preparation of the voting units, he shall be entitled upon withdrawing as such a candidate and upon his request to receive a return of the filing fee.
Campaigning and electioneering. In no event shall any campaigning be allowed within 100 feet of the entrance door of the Town Hall or any other polling place selected by the Board of Election Judges within the Town on election day.
Special elections shall be called and carried out in accordance with the following procedures:
Special elections for any purpose shall be called by a resolution passed by a majority of the Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air then in office. Any resolution calling a special election shall fix the date for the same, which date shall be a sufficient time after the passage of such resolution to enable notice thereof to be given by publishing a copy of such resolution, or a fair summary thereof, in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Bel Air not less than once in each of four weeks immediately preceding the election, or for such other length of time as may be required by law other than this chapter for publication of such notice if a longer time is so required. A complete and exact copy of each such resolution shall be retained in the Town Hall and shall be open to public inspection and the notice published in the newspaper shall so state. The election once called shall be conducted by the Board of Election Judges in every respect as is provided in the case of general elections.
When there shall be fewer than three Commissioners in office, the remaining Commissioner or Commissioners shall call a special election for the purpose of filling the vacancies in the office of Commissioner of Bel Air which shall be held no less than 45 days and no more than 60 days from the date when the third vacancy occurred in the office of Commissioner. In the event that there are no remaining Commissioners, the Town Administrator shall be required to hold a special election within such forty-five-day to sixty-day period.
Special tie or runoff election. When there is a tie vote in an election for the office of Commissioner, resulting in a vacancy on the Board, Commissioners duly elected to serve on the Board as newly constituted after the election shall call a special runoff election between the tied candidates to be held as soon as practicable after the election producing the tie.
If newly enacted legislation is subject to referendum in accordance with the provisions of Article V, Section 504 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air, the referendum shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures of Article V, Section 504 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
In the event of a state of emergency declared by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of law that interferes with the electoral process, an emergency proclamation passed by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners may:
Provide for the postponement until a specific date of the election;
Specify alternate voting locations; or
Specify alternate voting systems.
If emergency circumstances, not constituting a declared state of emergency, interfere with the electoral process, the Board of Election Judges, after conferring with the State Board of Elections, may petition a circuit court to take any action the court considers necessary to provide a remedy that is in the public interest and protects the integrity of the electoral process.
Four weeks before an election, the Board of Election Judges shall prepare a sample ballot listing the names of all persons who are qualified as candidates for the office of Commissioner, in accordance with Article III, Section 302 of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air, and who have filed in writing with the Town Clerk their intention to run for said office within 30 days before said election in accordance with this chapter, in alphabetical order according to their surnames. Also upon said ballot shall appear a condensed statement in understandable language of every Charter amendment or other question to be submitted to the vote of the people at said election. The Board of Election Judges, in preparation of ballots, shall follow the titling order for Charter amendments or other questions designated by the Town Administrator and certified by Town Counsel and shall always place the proposed Charter amendments and other questions, if any, in numerical order as indicated.
Policing. The Board of Election Judges has the authority to keep the peace and to cause any person to be removed from the polling place for any breach of the peace or for any breach of the Election Code or for any interference with the progress of an election or canvass of ballots or the ascertainment and transcription of the votes (recorded on voting machines).
Identification of voters. To establish the identity of the voter, the voter shall be asked to state the month and day of the voter's birth and verify his/her address of residence, and the Election Judge shall compare the response to the information listed in the poll book or a voting authority card. The voter shall give any change of address in the presence of the Board of Election Judges, which change shall be entered on the voting authority card or on a change of address form by the voter.
When using the State of Maryland's approved electronic voting system, a voter access card will be given to each voter after he/she has applied his/her signature as required. The voter access card permits the voter to vote on the voting unit.
Disposition of voting authority cards at close of polls. If voting authority cards are used, at the close of the polls, the Election Judges shall account for all voting authority cards surrendered to them by comparing the number of signed voter authority cards with the number of voters recorded in the poll book and/or precinct register. A form provided by the Harford County Board of Elections will be signed by an Election Judge verifying that the number of signed voting authority cards equals the number of names recorded in the poll book and/or precinct register and those two total the number of recorded ballots on the voting unit.
If the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners approves the use of a poll book in place of the voter authority cards, the number of signed voters entered into the poll book shall be compared to the number of votes cast on the voting unit. A form provided by the Harford County Board of Elections will be signed by an Election Judge verifying that the number of recorded voter signatures equals the number of registered ballots on the voting unit.
The Board of Town Commissioners authorizes the election Judges to administer provisional voting and canvass the provisional ballots, pursuant to state laws and regulations, providing the provisional voting does not conflict with the Town Election Code.
No voter shall remain within the voting booth or unit longer than four minutes if there are other voters awaiting an opportunity to register their vote, except that an additional three minutes shall be allowed if there are Charter amendments or referenda to be voted on.
Instructions. With the aid of the diagrams or other electronic equipment authorized by the Harford County Board of Elections, the Board of Election Judges, if requested by a voter, shall instruct each voter before he enters the voting unit or booth.
Assisting disabled persons in voting. No assistance in marking ballots or operating the voting unit in use shall be given except to voters who request assistance because of a physical disability or an inability to read or write English. The voter has the option to:
[Amended 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 724-09]
Select anyone to assist the voter, except:
The voter's employer;
The voter's union representative;
An officer or agent of the voter's employer or union; or
A candidate for office of Bel Air Commissioner.
Select two Election Judges to assist.
Voter assistance record. The Election Judges shall enter the voter's name and address on a voter assistance record, in the form prescribed by the State of Maryland. If the voter has selected someone to assist the voter, the individual selected by the voter shall:
Enter his/her name and address on the voter assistance record.
Sign the record to affirm that she or he has been asked by the voter to assist in casting the voter's ballot or in filling out the application for a ballot.
Assist the voter only by reading instructions, reading the content of the ballot or application form to the voter, operating the voting machine, or completing an application form as directed by the voter.
Not attempt to influence the voter or suggest in any way how the voter should vote in any contest or question.
The voter assistant must be over the age of 17.
Voter requesting assistance after entering the voting booth (unit). Two of the Election Judges shall give him/her instructions concerning the manner of voting. No such Election Judge shall, in any manner, request or suggest or speak or persuade or induce any such voter to vote for any particular candidate or for or against any particular question. After such instructions, the Election Judges shall retire and the voter shall forthwith vote.
An individual may not be removed from the voter registry unless the individual's ineligibility is substantiated by affirmative proof. In the absence of such proof, the presumption shall be that the individual is properly registered.
The ground for challenge. No person's right to vote shall be challenged at the polls on any ground but identity or failure to meet the minimum age requirement. If the right of any person to vote is challenged, the challenge shall be made by the Election Judge before or after such person receives a voting authority card or enters his/her name in the voter signature book and before the challenged voter enters the voting booth (unit) to cast his ballot.
Procedure for a challenge regarding voter registration.
Name of registered voter missing from voter registry on election day: An Election Judge will determine if the name of the registered voter is missing from the Town's voter registry because of a clerical error by contacting the Harford County Board of Elections to verify the voter is registered in the county and meets the minimum residency requirement to vote in the Town of Bel Air. Unless a majority of the Election Judges is of the opinion that the challenged voter is entitled to vote, his vote shall not be received and the word "Rejected" shall be written on his voting authority card or over his signature in the voter signature book.
If the individual feels aggrieved because he has been removed or refused registration from the Town's voter registry because he failed to meet the qualifications of a voter set forth in Article V, Section 501 of the Town Charter, he may file a challenge by completing a challenge form (supplied by Harford County Board of Elections) stating under oath the basis for the challenge. A challenge filed after voter registration has been closed prior to an election may not be heard until after that election. Within five days of a challenge being filed the Election Judges will schedule a hearing that shall be held no sooner than 10 days and no later than 15 days after the receipt of a challenge.
A notice shall be sent by certified mail to the challenger of the hearing date and to advise the challenger of the requirement to appear at the hearing to substantiate his/her challenge by affirmative proof.
All challenges shall be decided promptly after the hearing.
The Board of Town Commissioners shall not approve, rent or purchase an electronic voting system for use in a Town election without a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) after November 30, 2005.
In accordance with Title 9 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland, the State Board of Elections has certified a uniform voting system for use in polling places throughout the state and a uniform voting system for absentee voting.
If the voting system to be used in the scheduled election is not the voting system approved by the State of Maryland, the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners will indicate to the Board of Election Judges 120 days before any Town election the type of voting system to be used in the election.
If the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners elects not to use the State of Maryland's approved electronic election system, the use of another electronically tabulated ballot voting system shall be governed by general rules and regulations authorized by resolution of the Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air and as stated in this chapter. The rules, regulations and conditions shall include a description of the voting system, specifications for equipment required to implement the system, procedures for the use of the system in the polling places on election day and for the canvass of votes following the election, and provisions to ensure the following:
The secrecy of the ballot, in both the voting and tabulating processes.
A process whereby each voter is permitted to vote at any election for all persons for which he is entitled to vote; to vote for as many persons for an office as he is entitled to vote for; and to vote for or against any question upon which he is entitled to vote.
Rejection of all votes for any office or measure when the number of votes cast by a voter exceeds the number that voter is entitled to cast.
Correct counting of votes on ballots on which the proper number of votes has been indicated.
A process whereby each voter is permitted to vote by one punch or mark for more than one candidate, if this method of election is required by law.
The casting and counting of write-in votes, if this method of voting is permitted by law.
The tabulating and recording of votes for or against any candidate, candidates, or question.
If in any extreme emergency the Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air shall by resolution authorize an election to be conducted by paper ballot, it shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 9, Subtitle 2 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland, or with such other laws of the State of Maryland which may supersede Title 9, Subtitle 2 in the future.
Any voter in any general election or special election held in the Town of Bel Air may write or mark on a ballot or in an appropriate blank provided on a voting machine in the proper place the name of any person other than those already printed for whom he may desire to vote for any office in such election. Such write-in votes shall be counted the same as if the name of such person had been printed upon the ballot and marked by such voter.
The Board of Election Judges shall establish standards for clarity: each name written on a ballot in place of those already printed thereon shall include the first name, middle initial, and surname of the person whose name is written and such other identifying characteristics as may be required by the Board of Election Judges in cases where there are two or more persons with the same first, middle and surname who are qualified voters of the Town of Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland.
Absentee voting shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Title 9, Subtitle 3 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland, or with such other laws of the State of Maryland which may supersede Title 9, Subtitle 3 in the future. Absentee ballots must be received and date stamped prior to the closing of the polls. If an absentee vote is received after the closing of the polls, it shall remain sealed in the envelope and filed with the Town Clerk for a minimum period of one year after the election date.
Use authorized. When the Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air shall authorize by resolution alternate voting units, the Board of Election Judges shall provide for the use of voting units in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and under such rules and regulations as the Board of Election Judges may deem advisable.
Acquiring voting units. The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners may purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise acquire such number of voting units as may be required to equip the polling place. At least one unit shall be furnished for each unit of 1,500 registered voters and an additional unit for each fractional part of such unit; however, the Board of Election Judges, in its discretion, may determine the number of units to be furnished. The Board of Election Judges shall use the powers conferred upon it for the acquisition of voting units and shall acquire and have available the necessary number of voting units for use at all elections. The Board of Town Commissioners shall provide for the payment of such units.
State-required insurance for voting units. When using the state-certified voting units, the Town of Bel Air must provide property and casualty insurance with limits sufficient to replace any system components destroyed, damaged, lost, or stolen while the voting units are in the Town's custody. The State of Maryland must be named as an additional insured and the Town must provide to the Harford County Board of Elections, for transmission to the State Board of Elections, certificates evidencing the required coverage.
Every voting machine acquired or used in accordance with this chapter shall:
Provide facilities for voting for such candidates as may be nominated and upon such questions as may be submitted.
Preclude each voter from voting for more persons for any office than he is entitled to vote for and from voting for any candidate for the same office or any questions more than once.
Permit each voter to change his vote for any candidate or upon any question appearing on the ballot labels after the time he begins the final operation to cast his votes.
Permit and require voting in absolute secrecy and shall be so constructed that no person can see or know for whom any other voter has voted or is voting, save a voter whom he has assisted or is assisting in voting as prescribed by law.
Each voting unit shall have a visible public counter. The public counter shall be set at zero at the beginning of each election and register once each time a voter casts a ballot during that election.
Each voting unit shall have a visible system counter. The system counter shall be incapable of being reset and register once each time a voter casts a ballot during any election.
When properly operated, each voting unit shall register or record correctly and accurately every vote cast.
Each voting unit shall be so constructed that a voter may readily learn the method of operating it.
Each voting unit shall be so constructed and controlled that during the process of voting it shall preclude every person from seeing or knowing the number of votes recorded for any candidate and from tampering with any of the registering mechanisms.
Each voting unit shall automatically tabulate and print out the total votes cast on the voting unit for each candidate and for or against each ballot question.
The Town Administrator may contract with the Harford County Board of Elections to provide voting units and software necessary for conducting each election and to provide transportation of system hardware components from the storage location to the polling place.
When using the state-approved touch screen system, prior to a scheduled election, each of the touch screen units must be thoroughly tested for accuracy. Under the Town's contract, the Harford County Board of Elections staff will perform the testing at its warehouse facility, and the Bel Air Election Judges shall be afforded the opportunity to witness or participate in that testing. The final step in the testing shall be to place a numbered seal on each voting unit. Each voting unit shall remain sealed until the Board of Election Judges verifies the seal numbers as part of the opening procedure on election morning.
Where the use of voting units is authorized, at least one hour prior to the opening of the polls the Board of Election Judges shall cause to be delivered to designated polling places proper voting units with ballots and all necessary supplies for the conduct of the election. Each unit shall then remain sealed until examination immediately preceding the opening of the polls.
The Board of Election Judges shall provide ample protection against tampering with or damage to the voting units. For that purpose, the Board of Election Judges, or any of its members, may call upon any police officer to furnish such assistance as may be necessary. It shall be the duty of the police officer to furnish such assistance when requested to do so by any member of the Board of Election Judges.
Location of each machine. The voting unit and every part of the polling place shall be in plain view of the Board of Election Judges. Each voting unit shall be located in a polling place in such a position that the voting unit can be plainly seen by the Board of Election Judges when the unit is not occupied by a voter. The Board of Election Judges shall not itself be nor allow any other person to be in any position which will permit anyone to see or ascertain how a voter votes or how he has voted, except as provided in § 37-12 of this chapter. Election Judges shall inspect the face of each unit at frequent intervals to see that the unit has not been damaged or tampered with.
Other equipment. The Board of Election Judges shall furnish, at the expense of the Town, and shall deliver up to the polling place a sufficient number of general return sheets. The general return sheets shall list the names of the candidates in the same order and context as the ballot. The designated number and letter, if any, on the counter for each candidate shall be printed on the general return sheet opposite the candidate's name.
Preparation and opening the polls. When voting units are authorized, the Board of Election Judges shall inspect and verify the numbered seal on each unit. If, after such inspection, the Board of Election Judges shall sign a certificate to that effect, after signing such certificate, the Board of Election Judges shall remove the seal on each unit.
When the voting unit is open, the Board of Election Judges shall verify that the public counter registers zero. If the public counter does not register zero, the Board of Election Judges shall immediately notify the Harford County Board of Elections which shall cause the counter to be adjusted to zero; if it is impractical for the Harford County Board of Elections to adjust the counter before the time set for opening the polls, the Board of Election Judges shall immediately make a written record of the number registered on the counter and shall sign and post the same on the voting unit with a statement that the unit is out of order, and the unit shall remain in that status until the polls are closed or when the Harford County Board of Elections adjusts the counter of the voting unit to zero.
At the opening of the polls on election day each voting unit will print a zero report tape, which is to be signed by the Board of Election Judges.
Voting unit counters may not be exposed, repaired or adjusted during an election. The Board of Election Judges may authorize the Harford County Board of Elections to repair or adjust a voting unit as detailed above. Except as provided in this subsection or in Subsection E(1) above, all Board of Election Judges must agree that good cause exists prior to the repair or adjustment of a voting unit, and a statement of good cause shall be made in writing and signed by the Election Judges. The statement shall contain the information as to the repairs made, the reason for the malfunction of the unit, the duration of the period that the unit was out of order and the identity of the person who opened the unit and repaired it, and the statement shall be filed as a permanent record with the Board of Election Judges.
Where the use of voting units is authorized, the Harford County Board of Elections shall deliver the key which unlocks the operating mechanism compartment of each voting unit to the Board of Election Judges at designated polling places at least 1/2 hour before the time set for the opening of the polls in a sealed envelope on which shall be written the number of each voting unit, the number of the seal and the number registered on the protective counter or device as reported by the Harford County Board of Elections for each machine.
Immediately upon the setup of the voting units, the Board of Election Judges shall open the envelope containing the key for the voting units and shall determine whether the numbered seal on the operating voting unit is unbroken and that the number thereon is identical with the number certified on the envelope containing said key.
The key for the authorized voting units fits all units. The key opens a control panel where the power button and the memory card reside and it unlocks the printer compartment on each unit. Once the control panel has been opened to activate the power button on all units, an Election Judge shall secure the key until the close of the polls.
Time of closing. The polls shall be officially closed at 8:00 p.m., except that all qualified voters who are then waiting in line to vote shall be permitted to do so by the Board of Election Judges.
Where voting units are authorized for an election, when the last such voter in the polling place has voted, the Board of Election Judges shall prompt each voting unit for the voting results. A tape will print showing the election results and the number of ballots cast for that unit.
After the total for each unit has been printed, the number of votes as shown on each unit's public counter will be recorded and certified by an Election Judge who shall sign the certification. After the certifications have been completed, the personal computer (PC) memory cards of all voting units are to be removed and reinserted into a single voting unit where all the individual totals will be accumulated; PC memory cards shall be removed, sealed in a locked container and transported back to the Harford County Board of Elections.
In the event of a mechanical failure in a voting unit before prompting election results, the PC memory card for that unit shall be inserted into a spare voting unit provided by the Harford County Board of Elections.
The Board of Election Judges shall compare the total number of voters (combination of all voting unit totals) with the number of those who have voted as shown by the voting authority cards (poll book).
Counting of absentee ballots. After the tasks have been completed as stated above, the Board of Election Judges shall open the absentee ballot envelopes that were received prior to the closing of the polls. One Election Judge will read the vote cast for each office and a second Election Judge shall manually record each vote with another Election Judge witnessing the recording of the vote.
Preparation of the general return sheet.
When the canvass of all voting units in the polling place has been completed, the Board of Election Judges shall then prepare in ink a general return sheet reporting the votes registered on each unit, the votes registered by absentee ballots, the votes cast for each candidate, the votes cast for and against each question, the total number of votes and voters who have voted, as shown by the list of voters, and the number who have voted on each unit as shown by the public counters, and also the number registered on the protective counter or device on each unit immediately prior to the opening of the polls and immediately after the closing there of, and the sealing of the units. The number or other designation for each unit used shall also be entered thereon and then all members of the Board of Election Judges shall sign the general return sheet.
If any Judge shall decline to sign a general return sheet, he shall state his reason therefor in writing, and a copy thereof signed by himself shall be enclosed with the general return sheet.
A duplicate of the general return sheet shall be directed to the Circuit Court of Harford County and to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. The general return sheet shall be kept by the Board of Election Judges. The registering counters of the voting unit shall remain exposed to view until said returns and all other reports have been fully completed.
Each voting unit is to be sealed. The number of the seal which has been placed upon each voting unit is to be recorded and certified by the Board of Election Judges. The seal number is to be kept in the Town Clerk's office. The Board of Election Judges shall promptly deliver the key of the voting unit or voting units, as the case may be, enclosed in a sealed envelope to the Harford County Board of Elections. Said envelope shall have endorsed thereon a certificate of the Board of Election Judges. The voting units are to be returned to the Harford County Board of Elections warehouse. The units are to remain sealed until the final counts have been duly recorded with the Clerk of the Harford County Circuit Court office and verification of that recording has been received by the Town Clerk's office.
Before the general return sheet has been signed, in the presence of any candidates and any person appointed by an absent candidate to represent him in his absence, the Board of Election Judges shall, after closing of the polls as provided in § 37-22 herein, proceed as follows to proclaim the voting results:[1]
An Election Judge of the Board of Election Judges or the Town Clerk, if designated by the Board of Election Judges, shall read and announce in distinct tones the results of the election in the presence of all candidates or their duly designate challengers.
The vote count for each question or referendum on the ballot shall be read.
After such proclamation ample opportunity shall be given to any person lawfully present to compare the results so announced with the counter dials of the units, or the printed or photographic record thereof in the case of the units so constructed as to furnish a printed or photographic record of the setting of the counters and the numbers registered thereon and with the absentee ballots, and any necessary corrections shall then and there by made by the Board of Election Judges, after which the door or other cover of the unit shall be closed and locked.
If, within 10 days after an election, the Board of Election Judges shall receive notice in writing of any contest over the result of an election, then such Board of Election Judges, within five days from the receipt of such notice and in the presence of the principals involved in any such contest or their authorized representative, shall proceed to inspect and examine the voting units containing the votes cast for such contested office and shall make a record of the votes for such office upon each such unit. Such record shall be received as evidence as fully as if proved by the oral testimony of the person who shall sign the same or by the production of said voting units in court. After such inspection, examination and recording of the results thereof, the voting units shall be released and made available for use in any succeeding election.
All cases of contested election shall be decided by the Circuit Court of Harford County. The Circuit Court may adopt such modes of proceeding and adjudging costs in the case of contested elections as to it may seem most satisfactory. Each party shall have the right to appeal to the Court of Special Appeals as in other cases, said appeal to be taken within 30 days from the date of the decision complained of. The appeal should be heard and decided by the Court of Special Appeals as part of the record.
Offenses for improper registration, voting or ballot tampering, improper operation of the polling place, or destruction or tampering with the voting equipment shall be determined in accordance with Title 16 of the Election Law, Annotated Code of Maryland.
As provided for misdemeanors under Section 1104, Article XI of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air, the fine for violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be as set by the Board of Town Commissioners.[1]