<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<subtitle article="gel" title_number="16" subtitle_number="10" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_name="General Penalty Provisions">
  <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>
</subtitle>