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<chapter num="04" heading="Central Count Procedures" title_num="33" subtitle_num="08">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. This chapter applies to all voting systems except as specified in §B of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Exception. This chapter does not apply to votes cast on any other direct recording electronic voting equipment certified for use in this State.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Special Teams.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Appointment; Composition.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The local board shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Appoint special teams to perform various functions during the canvass; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Assign an identification number to each team.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>To the extent practicable, the teams shall be bipartisan.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Types. The special teams shall include, but not be limited to, one or more:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Ballot reception teams;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Ballot inspection teams;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Ballot duplicating teams; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Ballot verification teams.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Responsibilities. The local board shall develop and, with the approval of the State Board, adopt:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Written procedures on the responsibilities of each special team; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Specific instructions on how to carry out those responsibilities.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Ballot Box Inspection — Repealed." />
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Ballot Inspection — Repealed." />
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Ballot Duplication — Team Method.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. If a ballot inspection team determines that a ballot is unacceptable for machine tabulation, whether the defect existed when the ballot reached the counting center or resulted from processing in the counting center, the ballot shall be duplicated by a ballot duplicating team.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Standard for Duplicating. When determining the intent of the voter who cast the original ballot, the ballot duplicating team shall use the standards in COMAR 33.08.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Disposition of Ballots.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Following duplication, the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Original ballot shall be replaced by the duplicate ballot; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Duplicate ballot shall be counted with the ballots for that precinct.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Both ballots shall be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Given a unique identifying number; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Securely attached to each other.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Ballot Duplication — Automated Method.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. If a local board uses a barcode to generate a ballot that is acceptable for machine tabulation, the ballot submitted by the voter and the ballot generated from the barcode must be referred to a ballot verification team.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Standard for Verification.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The ballot verification team shall compare the ballot submitted by the voter against the ballot generated from the barcode.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If the team determines that the ovals marked on both ballots:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Match, the ballot generated from the barcode shall be tabulated.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Do not match, the team shall duplicate the ballot submitted by the voter according to Regulation .05 of this chapter and notify the State Administrator.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Disposition of Ballots. If the ballot generated from the barcode is tabulated:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The original ballot shall be replaced by the verified ballot;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The verified ballot shall be counted with the appropriate group; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Both ballots shall be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Given a unique identifying number; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Securely attached to each other.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The local board shall follow procedures issued by the State Administrator when tabulating these ballots.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Write-In Votes.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The report of votes cast from the certified voting system shall indicate the number of marks in write-in positions for each contest.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The local board shall manually tally and record all votes cast for write-in candidates.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Requisites for Validity. A write-in vote is not valid and may not be counted unless the write-in vote meets the requirements of COMAR 33.08.02.03.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Reporting. The reporting of write-in votes as part of the official returns shall be as the State Board requires.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="Over-Votes.">
    <text>An over-vote in a contest does not invalidate the rest of the ballot, but only the votes cast in that contest. All other votes correctly cast on the ballot shall be counted.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), and 11-201, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.07 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 636); adopted permanently effective July 10, 2000 (27:13 Md. R. 1213)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter recodified from COMAR 33.08.03 to COMAR 33.08.04 as an emergency provision effective October 4, 2004 (31:20 Md. R. 1483); recodified permanently effective January 6, 2005 (31:26 Md. R. 1868)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01B amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 624)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02A amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 624)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04C amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 624)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05B amended effective June 25, 2012 (39:12 Md. R. 746)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .06B amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 624)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter revised effective July 23, 2012 (39:14 Md. R. 839)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03 repealed effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04 repealed effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .07A amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .08 amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>