<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="03" heading="General Conduct of Recount" title_num="33" subtitle_num="12">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Canvassing Procedures to Apply.">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the regulations in COMAR 33.08 apply to any recount.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Attendance.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Recount Open to Public. Every recount shall be conducted publicly, open to candidates and their representatives, other parties to the recount, the media, and the general public.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Record of Attendance.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The local board shall require all persons attending the recount to complete and sign an attendance sheet, indicating whom they represent and the dates and times of attendance.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The attendance sheet shall be in the form specified by the State Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Order and Decorum.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. Every recount shall be conducted in one recount room, and in an orderly manner so as to ensure an accurate count.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Recount Room Arrangement. The election director shall arrange the recount room in an orderly manner that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Is consistent with the layout specified by the State Board; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Prevents retabulated ballots from being mixed with ballots not yet retabulated.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Communications with Personnel.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Candidates and their representatives, other parties to the recount, the media, and other observers may not speak, otherwise communicate, or in any way interfere with any of the special teams or other personnel conducting the recount.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>All questions about the recount shall be directed solely to the election director.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Security.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. Whenever a break is taken during the recount, for example, meal breaks, overnight, etc., the recount room shall be unoccupied and secured.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Duties of Election Director. The election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Secure the room in the presence of at least one board member; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Control all access to the room.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Status Reports.">
    <text>While the recount is in progress, the election director shall keep all parties to the recount informed of its status and interim recount results.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Documentation.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Required. The election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Document the entire recount process using a recount log; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Document the tally process for each contest using precinct tally sheets and contest tally sheets.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Forms. The recount log and the tally sheets shall be in the forms specified by the State Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), and 12-106(a), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 637); adopted permanently effective April 17, 2000 (27:7 Md. R. 709)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04 amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>