<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="02" heading="Prohibited Acts" title_num="33" subtitle_num="18">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Deep fake” has the meaning stated in COMAR 33.13.07.02H(1).</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Political convention” means the act of a political party or central committee of the political party to select, nominate, or elect:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>A replacement candidate to the ballot pursuant to Election Law Article, Title 5, Subtitles 9 and 10, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>A member to the central committee;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>A person for appointment to fill a vacancy in accordance with Article III, Section 13, of the Maryland Constitution; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>A candidate for the general election.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Prohibited Acts.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A person may not directly or indirectly give, offer, or promise money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing to another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring that person to vote or refrain from voting for or against:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An individual, question, or measure at an election or political convention; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The election of an officer by the General Assembly.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A person may not directly or indirectly receive, accept, request, or solicit money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing from another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring a third person to vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual, question, or measure at an election or political convention.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A person may not vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual, question, or measure at an election or a political convention, in consideration of money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing paid, received, accepted, or promised to the advantage of that person or of another person.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A person may not directly or indirectly give a contribution or contributions to a political committee in a name other than the person’s name.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Deep Fake. A person may not willfully or knowingly influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision to go to the polls or to cast a vote by publishing, distributing, or disseminating material constituting or containing a deep fake within 90 days before an election without meeting the same requirements imposed on political committees under COMAR 33.13.07.02H.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Penalty.">
    <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Ineligible to hold any public or party office for 4 years after the date of the offense.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 13-602, and 16-201(a), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02E adopted effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>