1. A. Sorting.

   1. (1) One team member shall sort and the other team member shall watch to ensure accuracy.

   2. (2) The ballots shall be sorted as follows:

      1. (a) A batch for each candidate or ballot question response selected by the voter;
      2. (b) A batch for ballots without a vote for the contest being tabulated;
      3. (c) For general elections, a batch for ballots for each officially filed write-in candidate; and
      4. (d) For general elections, a batch for all other write-in votes.

2. B. Recount Procedure.

   1. (1) When all ballots have been sorted, each team member shall independently count the ballots in each batch.
   2. (2) If the team members' results are not identical, they shall recount the ballots until they obtain identical results.

   3. (3) When the team members' results are identical, they shall:

      1. (a) Record the vote totals on the precinct tally sheet;
      2. (b) Sign the precinct tally sheet; and
      3. (c) Give the precinct tally sheet and the recounted ballots to the election director.
   4. (4) The election director shall then enter that precinct's totals on the contest tally sheet.

Authority: Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), and 12-106(a), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

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)

Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective October 22, 2004 (31:23 Md. R. 1650); amended permanently effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 290)

Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2008 (35:24 Md. R. 2074); amended permanently effective March 9, 2009 (36:5 Md. R. 424)

Regulation .02 amended as an emergency provision effective October 22, 2004 (31:23 Md. R. 1650); amended permanently effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 290)

Regulation .02 amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2008 (35:24 Md. R. 2074); emergency status expired January 20, 2009; amended permanently effective March 9, 2009 (36:5 Md. R. 424)

Regulation .02 amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)

Regulation .03 amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2008 (35:24 Md. R. 2074); emergency status expired January 20, 2009; amended permanently effective March 9, 2009 (36:5 Md. R. 424)

Regulation .03B amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 335)

Regulation .05A amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2008 (35:24 Md. R. 2074); emergency status expired January 20, 2009; amended permanently effective March 9, 2009 (36:5 Md. R. 424)