§ 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.