# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 16. Offenses and Penalties

### Subtitle 4. Petitions

#### Section 16-401

(a) A person may not willfully and knowingly:

  (1) give, transfer, promise, or offer anything of value for the purpose of inducing another person to sign or not sign any petition;

  (2) request, receive, or agree to receive, anything of value as an inducement to sign or not to sign any petition;

  (3) misrepresent any fact for the purpose of inducing another person to sign or not to sign any petition;

  (4) sign the name of any other person to a petition;

  (5) falsify any signature or purported signature to a petition;

  (6) obtain, or attempt to obtain, any signature to a petition by fraud, duress, or force;

  (7) circulate, cause to be circulated, or file with an election authority a petition that contains any false, forged, or fictitious signatures;

  (8) sign a petition that the person is not legally qualified to sign;

  (9) sign a petition more than once; or

  (10) alter any petition after it is filed with the election authority.

(b) Each violation of this section shall be considered a separate offense.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to the penalties provided in Subtitle 10 of this title.

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Md. Code Ann., Election Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)