Maryland § 16-904

§ 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 § 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, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution to assist in administering an election; and

                2.    a page as defined in § 10–401 of this article.

        (3)    “Electronic communication” has the meaning stated in § 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.