Maryland - Protections for Elections Flyer

1865

Law Enacted

$250K

Max Fine

5 YRS

Prison

ZERO

Exceptions

The Federal Law

Since 1865, federal law has banned armed federal personnel at polling places. In 1909, Congress deliberately removed the only exception — there is no law enforcement justification for armed feds at the polls. Not for "keeping the peace." Not for preventing fraud. Nothing.

18 U.S.C. § 592 — TROOPS AT POLLS

Any federal employee who stations armed personnel at a polling place commits a felony and is permanently barred from federal service. The DOJ's own manual says FBI agents cannot be stationed at polls.

5 YEARS PRISON $250,000 FINE CAREER DEATH

Maryland Legal Landscape

Home Rule

Maryland is definitively a Home Rule state, not a Dillon's Rule state, providing constitutional authority for local s...

Key Advantage

Maryland offers a favorable but legally nuanced environment for municipal election protection ordinances modeled on Madison, Wisconsin's approach to enforcing 18 U.S.C.

Key Risk

The state's robust home rule framework, absence of anti-sanctuary laws, and concentration of progressive charter jurisdictions create viable pathways—though Maryland's comprehen...

Best Framing

For election protection ordinances, charter counties and Baltimore City possess the strongest legal foundation under Local Government Article § 10-206(a), which grants charter c...

Anti-Sanctuary Law

✓ Critically, Maryland has NOT enacted anti-sanctuary laws prohibiting local restrictions on cooperation with federal agencies.

Target Cities in Maryland

Baltimore City

Independent City

emerges as the. strongest initial target based on political alignment, legal aut...

Montgomery County

See state guide

ranks as the. second-priority target with an 11-0 Democratic County Council and ...

Howard County

See state guide

presents the third. -strongest target with a 4-1 Democratic supermajority on the...

What You Can Do Right Now

Contact Call your city council member. Ask them to introduce a Protections for Elections ordinance.

Show Up Attend your next council meeting. 3 minutes of public comment changes priorities.

Connect Join a local organization already working on voting rights in Maryland.

Share Give this to 3 people. Post it at your library, café, or community board.

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