The director of the Carroll County Board of Elections filed a peace order Wednesday morning against a member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, claiming that she was being followed as she left an early voting center this week.
Carroll County Election Director Erin Perrone filed the peace order in Carroll County District Court against Katherine Adelaide, a member of the county’s Republican Central Committee. Court records state that the peace order was granted against Adelaide during a 10:24 a.m. hearing Wednesday.
“A peace order is a form of legal protection for anyone who is experiencing problems with an individual, including someone in a dating relationship, a neighbor, a stranger, or anyone else,” The People’s Law Library of Maryland states on its website. “The peace order enables an individual who wishes to be left alone to ask the court to order another person to stay away and refrain from any contact.”
Adelaide, who was then a candidate for county commissioner, was served with a criminal summons in 2019 after a conflict at a meeting of the Taneytown Mayor and City Council. She was charged with refusal to leave public building or grounds, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct.
In November 2022, Adelaide, who was then vice chairwoman of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, said she was denied her right to vote and electioneer during early voting. Police were called to the Westminster Senior Center and they escorted her away from the polling place following a disagreement with election judges. No charges were filed in that incident.
Neither Perrone nor Adelaide responded to requests for comment.
The Carroll County Times obtained an email Perrone sent Wednesday to members of the Carroll County Board of Elections detailing the incident at the Westminster site. It stated: “When I left the Westminster Senior Center, I was followed back to the office by Katherine Adelaide. I got all my stuff out of my car, including the blue ballot bin that I used to empty the drop box. Ms. Adelaide parked behind me in the parking lot to watch me. When I got into the office, I looked at the video footage. Ms. Adelaide pulled her car in front of the building and watched me walk down the hallway into the office.”
Perrone stated in the email that she has video footage of Adelaide watching her as she left the Westminster Senior Center. The footage captures Adelaide backing out of her parking space and following her, Perrone stated. Perrone goes on to say in the email that she contacted officials with the Maryland State Board of Elections to report what happened. Perrone also contacted the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor, who suggested that she file a peace order.
Jared DeMarinis, administrator with the state board of elections, issued a statement on X, Thursday afternoon in response to Wednesday’s incident. Though his statement does not directly name Adelaide, Perrone or the Carroll County Board of Elections, his representatives confirmed it was posted in response to the Carroll County incident.
“I have an absolute ZERO tolerance for harassment or making threats against election officials,” DeMarinis stated in the X post. “They have the highest level of integrity & need to do their mission in a safe environment. TY to @GovWesMoore for increasing our protections. It’s shameful an incident has occurred.”
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III stated in an email that his office does not comment on the existence or status of any investigation unless it results in criminal charges.
Early voting started Oct. 24 and ended Oct. 31. Voters have been casting ballots all week at the Westminster Senior Center, South Carroll Senior Center in Sykesville and the Coppermine PantherPlex in Hampstead.
Have a news tip? Contact Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@baltsun.com, 240-315-7029 and @sherrygreenfie9 on X.