1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) “Election official” means:

         1. 1. the State Administrator;
         2. 2. a member of the State Board;
         3. 3. an employee of the State Board;
         4. 4. counsel to the State Board;
         5. 5. a county election director appointed under § 2-202 of this article;
         6. 6. a member of a local board;
         7. 7. an employee of a local board;
         8. 8. counsel to a local board; or
         9. 9. an election judge.

      2. (ii) “Election official” includes:

         1. 1. an individual who takes the oath prescribed in Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution to assist in administering an election; and
         2. 2. a page as defined in § 10-401 of this article.
   3. (3) “Electronic communication” has the meaning stated in § 3-805 of the Criminal Law Article.

   4. (4) “Harm” includes:

      1. (i) serious injury; and
      2. (ii) serious emotional distress.

   5. (5) “Immediate family member” includes:

      1. (i) a parent;
      2. (ii) a spouse; and
      3. (iii) a child.

   6. (6) “Threat” includes:

      1. (i) an oral threat;
      2. (ii) a threat made by electronic communication; and
      3. (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.
2. (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.
3. (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.
4. (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.

Added by Acts 2024, c. 20, § 1, eff. April 9, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 21, § 1, eff. April 9, 2024.