On February 6, 2024, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 585- Protection of Election Officials Act of 2024. This bill makes it a misdemeanor to threaten election officials or their immediate family members.
Counties facilitate federal, state, and local elections for all communities across Maryland. Local election officials, board members, employees, and judges are indispensable to this process. Threats and intimidating behavior toward these officials can have devastating consequences for the integrity and efficiency of this critical practice.
Counties believe the provisions of HB 585 will allow for corrective actions to be taken to mitigate these concerning and persistent behaviors. Local jurisdictions rely on enthusiastic election workers and facilitators to step into these vital roles, but unregulated threats and divisive actions will continue to discourage good, qualified candidates from facilitating elections.
HB 585’s cross-file, SB 480, was heard on February 21 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Sarah Sample testified in support of this bill. SB 480 was heard in the opposite chamber, the House Judiciary Committee, on March 21. MACo submitted testimony in support of this bill.
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