On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 951 – Election Law – Election Officials and Workers – Prohibitions Against Interference and Disclosure of Personal Information.
This bill provides necessary and timely policy changes to protect public servants charged with ensuring fair, open, and transparent elections by extending criminal penalties for doxing election officials and their families. In addition, the bill allows election officials to petition to protect their personal information if releasing it seriously threatens the election official or their immediate families.
From the MACo Testimony:
Maryland law protects local elected officials who perform their duties – making it a crime for residents to threaten, intimidate, or otherwise impede their public responsibilities. However, unlike some states, Maryland does not extend these protections to other non-elected officials who perform administrative or oversight roles but may suffer the same potentially dangerous feedback from angry residents.
More on MACo’s Advocacy:
Learn more about MACo’s 2023 Legislative Initiatives
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