Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025
H.R. 4894, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025, would criminalize and civilly sanction deceptive conduct aimed at federal elections and related voting activities. The core idea is to curb false or misleading information intended to suppress turnout or mislead voters, especially in the 60 days leading up to federal elections. The bill defines specific prohibited acts, including false statements about when, where, or how to vote or about eligibility, and it would bar the use of artificial intelligence to generate such deceptive content. It also expands penalties for voter intimidation and adds new enforcement tools: private civil actions, federal criminal penalties, a corrective-action duty for the Attorney General, and annual reporting to Congress about allegations of deception. Additionally, the bill broadens protections around the tabulation and canvassing process by making intimidation of those involved in counting votes a crime. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen federal oversight and accountability for deceptive election practices, with a focus on preventing misinformation and intimidation that can disenfranchise voters, while creating new mechanisms for enforcement and corrective information.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition of deceptive communications about federal elections within 60 days of an election, including false statements about time/place/manner of voting, eligibility, penalties, or other requirements, and specifically prohibiting the use of generative AI to produce such false information with intent to interfere with voting.
- 2Private civil action option for individuals harmed by deceptive election practices, allowing civil relief (e.g., injunctions) and attorney’s fees for prevailing parties; related conforming amendments to 52 U.S.C. 10101.
- 3Expanded criminal penalties for deceptive acts: making it unlawful to disseminate materially false information about elections (within 60 days before an election), with a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison, in addition to other existing offenses.
- 4Corrective-action mechanism: if credible false information is detected and state/local officials do not adequately correct it, the Attorney General can issue accurate corrective information to the public, with procedures, timelines, and broad consultation requirements.
- 5Reporting to Congress: after each general federal election, the Attorney General must submit a public report detailing allegations of deceptive practices, actions taken, and related information, with protections for sensitive or ongoing investigations.
- 6Making intimidation around vote tabulation, canvassing, and certification a crime: expands protections to include processes such as processing or scanning ballots and certifying results, ensuring these activities cannot be unlawfully interfered with or intimidated.
- 7Additional provisions around election descriptions and definitions, including clarifications that apply to federal general, primary, runoff, or special elections, and definitions for AI and generative AI.