<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 33.12.05.05" title_num="33" subtitle_num="12" chapter_num="05" heading="Manual Recount—Sort Method.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Sorting.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>One team member shall sort and the other team member shall watch to ensure accuracy.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The ballots shall be sorted as follows:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A batch for each candidate or ballot question response selected by the voter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A batch for ballots without a vote for the contest being tabulated;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For general elections, a batch for ballots for each officially filed write-in candidate; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>For general elections, a batch for all other write-in votes.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Recount Procedure.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>When all ballots have been sorted, each team member shall independently count the ballots in each batch.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the team members' results are not identical, they shall recount the ballots until they obtain identical results.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>When the team members' results are identical, they shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Record the vote totals on the precinct tally sheet;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Sign the precinct tally sheet; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Give the precinct tally sheet and the recounted ballots to the election director.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The election director shall then enter that precinct's totals on the contest tally sheet.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>