# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 16. Offenses and Penalties

### Subtitle 9. Other Offenses

#### Section 16-904

(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 Sec. 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

      (9) an election judge.

    (ii) "Election official" includes:

      (1) an individual who takes the oath prescribed in Article I, Sec. 9 of the Maryland Constitution to assist in administering an election; and

      (2) a page as defined in Sec. 10-401 of this article.

  (3) "Electronic communication" has the meaning stated in Sec. 3-805 of the Criminal Law Article.

  (4) "Harm" includes:

    (i) serious injury; and

    (ii) serious emotional distress.

  (5) "Immediate family member" includes:

    (i) a parent;

    (ii) a spouse; and

    (iii) a child.

  (6) "Threat" includes:

    (i) an oral threat;

    (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.

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