The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 would make it a federal crime to knowingly spread false information about federal elections when the goal is to stop someone from voting. Within 60 days of a federal election, no one could communicate materially false statements about where, when, or how to vote, or about a person's registration status or legal eligibility, including using artificial intelligence to generate that content. Violators would face up to 1 year in prison and a fine, and voters harmed by the false information could sue for injunctions and attorney's fees in federal court. The Attorney General would be required to publish corrective information to the public when state or local officials have not already done so, and would report to Congress after every federal election on allegations, investigations, and prosecutions. The bill also makes it a federal crime to intimidate or interfere with people counting, canvassing, or certifying ballots, addressing threats against election workers. Its findings describe how voter deception and intimidation have historically targeted Black, Latino, Native American, and other voters of color.
Congressional Summary
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025This bill generally prohibits deceptive communications and voter interference regarding federal elections.Specifically, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from communicating, causing to be communicated, or producing for communication certain information on voting, if the person (1) knows such information to be materially false, and (2) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.Additionally, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from using an artificial intelligence system to produce certain information on voting, if the person has the intent to use the system to (1) produce false information, and (2) impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.The bill also prohibits hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote.A private right of action for preventive relief is established for persons aggrieved by violations of these prohibitions.Criminal penalties are also established for violations.If the Department of Justice (DOJ) receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of the prohibitions on deceptive communications, and state and local election officials have not adequately communicated corrected information, then DOJ must communicate to the public accurate information designed to correct the materially false information.The bill extends the prohibition on certain types of intimidation in federal elections to also prohibit intimidation for processing ballots or tabulating, canvassing, or certifying votes.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-09-18
- Date Added
- 2026-04-24
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