1. (a) In a polling place, the State Administrator, the Deputy State Administrator, or a local election director has the authority to:

   1. (1) keep the peace; and

   2. (2) order the arrest of any person who:

      1. (i) breaches the peace;
      2. (ii) breaches any provision of this article; or
      3. (iii) interferes with the work of the election judges in conducting the election and carrying out their assigned tasks.

2. (b)

   1. (1) While serving in a polling place, a local election director shall protect a challenger or watcher in the exercise of the rights of a challenger or watcher as provided in § 10-311 of this subtitle.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) A local election director is not required to admit a challenger or watcher to a polling place before the polls open if the challenger or watcher was not present at the polling place at least 30 minutes before its opening.
      2. (ii) A local election director may require challengers and watchers to leave a polling place before it opens if the local election director has reason to believe that the presence of the challengers and watchers will prevent the timely opening of the polling place.
3. (c) A local election director may exercise the authority under subsections (a) and (b) of this section independent of an election judge assigned to the polling place.

Added by Acts 2026, c. 467, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026; Acts 2026, c. 468, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.