<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-101" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Voter Registration"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>impersonate a voter or other person in order to register or attempt to register in the name of the voter or other person;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>register to vote more than once;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>falsify residence in an attempt to register in the wrong location;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>secure registration through any unlawful means;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>cause by unlawful means the name of a qualified voter to be stricken from the statewide voter registration list;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>prevent, hinder, or delay a person having a lawful right to register from registering, through the use of force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>falsify any name on a registration;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>misrepresent any fact relating to registration; or</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>induce or attempt to induce a person to violate any prohibition in items (1) through (8) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person acting under color of law may not discriminate against an individual based on the individual’s declination to register to vote or voter registration information.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A person who violates this section is subject to § 5–106(b) of the Courts Article.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A person who unintentionally becomes registered to vote under § 3–203 of this article:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall be considered to have become registered to vote based on information provided to the State Board by an automatic voter registration agency; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>may not be considered to have violated this section because of the unintended registration.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-201" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “influence” includes the use of pressure, deception, trickery, or direct or indirect authority to induce action or to change the decision or act of another, regardless of the medium used.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>impersonate another person in order to vote or attempt to vote; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>vote or attempt to vote under a false name;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>vote more than once for a candidate for the same office or for the same ballot question;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>vote or attempt to vote more than once in the same election, or vote in more than one election district or precinct;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>vote in an election district or precinct without the legal authority to vote in that election district or precinct;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>influence or attempt to influence a voter’s voting decision through the use of force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision, through the use of force, fraud, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward, whether to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>go to the polls to cast a vote; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>vote by other lawful means; or</text> </level> </level> <level label="7"> <text>engage in conduct that results or has the intent to result in the denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race, color, or disability.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Except as provided in § 16–1002 of this title, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A person who violates this section is subject to § 5–106(b) of the Courts Article.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-202" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>A person who has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a court–ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction, and has been rendered ineligible to vote pursuant to § 3–102(b) of this article, may not vote or attempt to vote during the time that the person is rendered ineligible to vote.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-203" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully disobey the lawful command of an election official at a polling place on election day.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $250 or imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 6 months or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-204" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not hinder or impede the conduct of official electoral activities by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>breach of the peace;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>disorder; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>violence or threat of violence.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 1 year or by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-205" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A person may not interfere with an election official in the performance of the official duties of the election official.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A person may not interfere with an individual lawfully present at a polling place or at the canvass of votes.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not less than 3 months nor more than 1 year or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-206" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>place any distinguishing mark on the person’s own or another person’s ballot for the purpose of identifying the ballot;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>misrepresent the person’s ability to mark a ballot or operate voting equipment;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>interfere or attempt to interfere with a voter while the voter is inside the polling room, marking a ballot, or operating voting equipment;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>induce or attempt to induce a voter to mark the voter’s ballot in a certain way;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>except for servicing by an authorized person, unlock any locked compartment of a voting device unless instructed to do so by the election director;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>destroy or deface a ballot;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>remove a ballot from a building in which voting occurs, except as otherwise provided in this article;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>delay the delivery of a ballot;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>possess on or before the day of election an official ballot printed for the election, unless the possession of the ballot is necessary and appropriate for carrying out the election process;</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>canvass, electioneer, or post any campaign material in the polling place or beyond a line established by signs posted in accordance with subsection (b) of this section;</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>canvass, electioneer, or post any campaign material in a manner that obstructs access to a ballot drop box; or</text> </level> <level label="12"> <text>place any campaign material or any other unauthorized material on a ballot drop box.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At each polling place, one election judge from each principal political party shall be designated by the local board and, acting jointly, shall post signs delineating a line around the entrance and exit of the building that are closest to that part of the building in which voting occurs.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the line shall be located as near as practicable to 100 feet from the entrance and exit and shall be established after consideration of the configuration of the entrance and the effect of placement on public safety and the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>In Montgomery County, on approval of the local board, the line may be located at any point between 25 feet and 100 feet from the entrance and exit.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The signs shall contain the words “No Electioneering Beyond this Point”.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 60 days or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-207" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Voting and Electoral Operations"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “alcoholic beverages” has the meaning provided in § 1–101 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not bring, send, or attempt to bring or send any alcoholic beverages into a polling place during the hours that the polling place is open.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-301" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Conduct of Election Officials"> <level label="a"> <text>An election official or an official of a political party may not willfully neglect official duties under this article or engage in corrupt or fraudulent acts in the performance of official duties under this article.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 3 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-302" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Conduct of Election Officials"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not fraudulently tamper with election records of any kind, whether on paper or in any other medium.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-303" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Conduct of Election Officials"> <level label="a"> <text>An election judge, while performing official duties at a polling place, may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>interfere in any way with the casting of a vote by a person who the election judge knows is lawfully entitled to vote at an election;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>fail to challenge a person who the election judge has reason to believe is not entitled to vote;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>refuse to follow the instructions of the election director with respect to the qualification of voters, the use of voting equipment, or the casting of votes; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>obstruct the view at any time of any person, lawfully present in the polling place, who wishes to see the ballot box or voting equipment used during an election.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An election judge who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for not less than 3 months nor more than 2 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-304" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Conduct of Election Officials"> <level label="a"> <text>In a polling place on election day, an election judge may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>permit a ballot or ballots to be placed into a ballot receptacle prior to the time for voting; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>place a ballot in a ballot receptacle unless the ballot is offered by a properly registered voter or is a provisional ballot placed with other provisional ballots of the same character.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>cause or permit a ballot, including a provisional ballot, to be cast or deposited in a ballot receptacle, voting device, or other receptacle designed for the collection of ballots other than by a person entitled under this article to cast a ballot; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>substitute, alter, add, or remove a submitted ballot from a ballot receptacle, voting device, or other receptacle designed for the collection of ballots, except when instructed to do so by the election director.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-401" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Petitions"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>give, transfer, promise, or offer anything of value for the purpose of inducing another person to sign or not sign any petition;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>request, receive, or agree to receive, anything of value as an inducement to sign or not to sign any petition;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>misrepresent any fact for the purpose of inducing another person to sign or not to sign any petition;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>sign the name of any other person to a petition;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>falsify any signature or purported signature to a petition;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>obtain, or attempt to obtain, any signature to a petition by fraud, duress, or force;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>circulate, cause to be circulated, or file with an election authority a petition that contains any false, forged, or fictitious signatures;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>sign a petition that the person is not legally qualified to sign;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>sign a petition more than once; or</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>alter any petition after it is filed with the election authority.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each violation of this section shall be considered a separate offense.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to the penalties provided in Subtitle 10 of this title.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-501" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Oaths"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully and falsely take an oath or affirmation prescribed:</text> <level label="1"> <text>by the State Board; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pursuant to this article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not willfully induce or procure, or offer to induce or procure, another person to willfully and falsely take an oath or affirmation prescribed:</text> <level label="1"> <text>by the State Board; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pursuant to this article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of perjury and shall be punished according to the laws of the State for perjury.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of subornation of perjury and shall be punished according to the laws of the State for subornation of perjury.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-601" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Canvassing"> <level label="a"> <text>An election judge or other election official may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>make, sign, publish, or deliver a false certificate or statement of the result of the election or any other false report of any kind; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>deface, destroy, or conceal any statement, tally, certificate, or other document entrusted to the official’s care and custody.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 10 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-701" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Election Records and Documents"> <level label="a"> <text>A person with custody of election records may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>destroy, deface, falsify, remove, or conceal any record related to voting;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>make a fraudulent entry or alteration, or permit another person to make a fraudulent entry or alteration, of any record related to voting; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>allow any other person to do the acts prohibited in items (1) and (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Any person who does not have custody over election items may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>do an act prohibited by subsection (a) of this section; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>advise, procure, or abet the commission of an act prohibited by subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>This section does not apply to the disposition of obsolete records in the ordinary course of the operation of the State Board or a local board.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Each violation of this section is a separate offense.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 10 years.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-801" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Voting Equipment"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully:</text> <level label="1"> <text>conceal, damage, or destroy voting equipment used or intended to be used on the day of election; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>remove voting equipment from the custody of the election judges or other election officials.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-802" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Voting Equipment"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>tamper with, damage, or attempt to damage any voting equipment that is used or will be used in an election; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>prevent or attempt to prevent the correct operation of any voting equipment that is used or will be used on the day of election.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An unauthorized person may not make or have in the person’s possession a key to any voting equipment that is used or will be used on the day of election.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-803" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Voting Equipment"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not remove, deface, or destroy equipment or supplies placed in a polling place by election officials during an election.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-804" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Voting Equipment"> <level label="a"> <text>When an electronic voting system is used, a person may not willfully and knowingly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>access the system unless authorized to do so by the appropriate election authority; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>tamper with or alter the hardware, system components, or software utilized by the voting system, for the purpose of affecting the vote count.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction shall be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-901" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not falsely or fraudulently:</text> <level label="1"> <text>make, deface, or destroy a certificate of candidacy or certificate of nomination or any part of the certificate; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>file or suppress a certificate of candidacy or certificate of nomination that has been duly filed.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-902" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not make a bet or wager on the outcome of an election held under this article.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500 to be paid to the State.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Any deposit of money as a bet or a wager on the outcome of an election shall be forfeited and paid to the governing body of the county where the money is deposited.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-903" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not attire or equip an individual, or permit an individual to be attired or equipped, in a manner which creates the appearance that the individual is performing an official or governmental function in connection with an election, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>wearing a public or private law enforcement or security guard uniform;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>using an armband; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>except as required by law or by regulation adopted by the State Board in connection with ballot security activities, carrying or displaying a gun or badge within 100 feet of a polling site on election day.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>A law enforcement officer or security guard who is on duty or traveling to or from duty may vote while wearing a uniform.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A law enforcement officer who is performing an official governmental function may wear a uniform at a polling site.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person who violates this section is subject to the civil penalty specified under § 16-1002 of this title.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-904" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>“Election official” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the State Administrator;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a member of the State Board;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>an employee of the State Board;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>counsel to the State Board;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>a county election director appointed under § 2–202 of this article;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>a member of a local board;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>an employee of a local board;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>counsel to a local board; or</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>an election judge.</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“Election official” includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>an individual who takes the oath prescribed in Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution to assist in administering an election; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a page as defined in § 10–401 of this article.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Electronic communication” has the meaning stated in § 3–805 of the Criminal Law Article.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“Harm” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>serious injury; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>serious emotional distress.</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>“Immediate family member” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a parent;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a spouse; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a child.</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>“Threat” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an oral threat;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a threat made by electronic communication; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>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.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>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.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>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.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>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.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-905" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Deepfake” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording that has been intentionally created or manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence or other digital technology to create a realistic but false depiction of a person that an ordinary person would conclude is an actual visual or audio representation of the person depicted.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Influence” has the meaning stated in § 16–201 of this title.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section does not apply:</text> <level label="1"> <text>with respect to a deepfake that is satire or parody;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>to a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, or an affiliate of the radio or television broadcasting station, that broadcasts a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the broadcast is required by the federal law that requires broadcasters to air advertisements from legally qualified candidates;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the broadcast is part of a bona fide newscast, a news interview, a news documentary, or on–the–spot coverage of bona fide news events; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the broadcaster has been paid to broadcast the deepfake;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>to a website or regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an Internet or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest and that publishes a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>to any online publisher or service provider for acts that would be subject to immunity under 47 U.S.C. § 230.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person may not knowingly or with reckless disregard create, use, or disseminate a deepfake to produce materially false information if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the person has the intent to use the deepfake to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>impede, influence, prevent, or attempt to impede, influence, or prevent a voter’s decision to cast a ballot;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>misrepresent facts relating to voter registration, voting methods, election results, electoral processes, or official duties of an election official;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>induce or attempt to induce another individual to sign or not sign a petition for a question to appear on a ballot; or</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision whether to vote for or against a candidate or ballot issue; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the creation, use, or dissemination of the deepfake results, or has the intent to result, in harm to a voter, potential voter, or petition.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A person who violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-1001" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="General Penalty Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>A person convicted of a misdemeanor under this article for which no penalty is specifically provided is subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $250 or imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 6 months or both.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who is convicted of any criminal violation of this article shall be disqualified permanently from serving as an election judge, board member, or employee of a board.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A candidate who is convicted of any practice prohibited by this article shall be ineligible to be elected or appointed to any public office or employment for a period of 5 years following the date of the conviction.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-1002" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="General Penalty Provisions"> <text>A person who violates § 16–201(b)(6) or (7) or § 16–903 of this title without knowing that the act is illegal shall pay a civil penalty and have the matter adjudicated in accordance with § 13–604 of this article.</text> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-1003" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="General Penalty Provisions"> <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a fine imposed for a criminal violation of this article shall be distributed to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund established under § 15–103 of this article.</text> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-1004" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="General Penalty Provisions"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Attorney General may institute an action in a circuit court of the State for injunctive relief in accordance with the Maryland Rules to prohibit a person from committing an imminent violation or continuing to commit a violation of § 16–201 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>This paragraph applies if the Attorney General is a candidate in a contest on the ballot in an election.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Attorney General may not seek injunctive relief under paragraph (1) of this subsection if a violation of § 16–201 of this title is committed by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Attorney General;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a person acting on behalf of the Attorney General;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a candidate who is opposing the Attorney General in a contest on the ballot; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a person acting on behalf of a candidate who is opposing the Attorney General in a contest on the ballot.</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>The State Prosecutor may seek injunctive relief in accordance with this section in any circumstance in which the Attorney General is prohibited from seeking injunctive relief under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Injunctive relief may be granted under this section only:</text> <level label="1"> <text>to prevent a violation of § 16–201 of this title from affecting a pending election; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>based on a showing by clear and convincing evidence that a violation of § 16–201 of this title is imminent or is being committed.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The circuit court shall hear and determine the matter as soon as practicable after filing of the application.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The grant of a remedy by the circuit court under this section does not preclude any other remedy available to a person under State or federal law.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The circuit court shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>have jurisdiction over any proceeding instituted in accordance with this section; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>exercise its jurisdiction without regard to whether a person asserting a right under this section has exhausted any administrative or other remedy available to that person under law.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>An appeal of a decision of the circuit court under this section shall be taken directly to the Supreme Court of Maryland within 5 days of the date of the decision.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Supreme Court of Maryland shall give priority to hear and decide an appeal brought under paragraph (1) of this subsection as expeditiously as the circumstances require.</text> </level> </level> </section>