Section 16-904 - Threatening an election official(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2)(i) "Election official" means: 1. the State Administrator;2. a member of the State Board;3. an employee of the State Board;4. counsel to the State Board;5. a county election director appointed under § 2-202 of this article;6. a member of a local board;7. an employee of a local board; 8. counsel to a local board; or(ii) "Election official" includes an individual who takes the oath prescribed in Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution to assist in administering an election.
(3) "Electronic communication" has the meaning stated in § 3-805 of the Criminal Law Article.(4) "Harm" includes: (ii) serious emotional distress.(5) "Immediate family member" includes: (6) "Threat" includes: (ii) a threat made by electronic communication; and(iii) a threat in any written form, whether or not the writing is signed, or if the writing is signed, whether or not it is signed with a fictitious name or any other mark.(b) A person may not knowingly and willfully make a threat to harm an election official or an immediate family member of an election official because of the election official's role in administering the election process.(c) a person may not knowingly send, deliver, part with, or make for the purpose of sending or delivering a threat prohibited under subsection (b) of this section.(d) a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $2,500 or both.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 21,Sec. 1, eff. 4/9/2024.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 20,Sec. 1, eff. 4/9/2024.