The present work deals with the gravitational stability of an electrified Maxwellian fluid sheet shearing under the influence of a vertical periodic electric field. The field produces surface charges on the interfaces of the fluid sheet. Due to the rather complicated nature of the problem a mathematical simplification is considered where the weak effects of viscoelastic fluids are taken into account. The solutions of the linearized equations of motion and boundary conditions lead to two simultaneous Mathieu equations with damping terms and having complex coefficients. Stability criteria are discussed through the assumption of symmetric and anti-symmetric deformations. The disappearance of surface charges from the interfaces obeys a certain relation derived in the marginal state. Furthermore, the case dealing with general deformation is discussed through marginal state analysis. The stability behavior in resonant and nonresonant cases are studied. In addition, the stability picture in the case of absence of the field frequency is studied. The numerical examination for stability showed that the relaxation time ratio plays a destabilizing influence in the case of anti-symmetric deformation or in the general deformation. The stabilizing effect for the relaxation time ratio is saved in the case of general deformation in the presence of the field frequency. In the later case the viscosity, the velocity, and the thickness parameter play a stabilizing influence. A dual role is readied for these parameters in the absence of the field frequency or in the anti-symmetric deformation. The field frequency still plays a destabilizing role in both cases. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.