Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025
Latest action (5 Aug 2025): Introduced
What this bill does
# H.R. 4894 — Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025
This bill would create new federal prohibitions on spreading knowingly false information intended to stop people from voting in federal elections. Within 60 days of a federal election, it would be illegal to communicate—by any means, including through AI-generated content—materially false information about the time, place, or manner of voting, or about voter eligibility and related penalties, with the intent to prevent someone from voting. It also bars intentionally hindering or interfering with voting or voter registration, including setting up fake polling places. Violations could result in civil lawsuits by affected individuals (with possible attorney's fees) and criminal penalties of up to one year in prison. The U.S. Sentencing Commission would be directed to review related sentencing guidelines.
The bill affects voters generally, but its findings emphasize past incidents disproportionately targeting racial, ethnic, and language-minority voters through false mailings, calls, texts, and online disinformation. It also affects the Attorney General, who would be required to issue public corrective information when false statements about voting go uncorrected by state or local officials, following written procedures developed with election and civil rights groups, and to report to Congress after each general election on allegations, investigations, and enforcement actions.
The bill was introduced August 5, 2025, by Rep. Jennifer McClellan and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not yet received a committee vote, floor vote, or further action.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025
This 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.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4894 do?
- # H.R. 4894 — Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 This bill would create new federal prohibitions on spreading knowingly false information intended to stop people from voting in federal elections. Within 60 days of a federal election, it would be illegal to communicate—by any means, including through AI-generated content—materially false information about the time, place, or manner of voting, or about voter eligibility and related penalties, with the intent to prevent someone from voting. It also bars intentionally hindering or interfering with voting or voter registration, including setting up fake polling places. Violations could result in civil lawsuits by affected individuals (with possible attorney's fees) and criminal penalties of up to one year in prison. The U.S. Sentencing Commission would be directed to review related sentencing guidelines. The bill affects voters generally, but its findings emphasize past incidents disproportionately targeting racial, ethnic, and language-minority voters through false mailings, calls, texts, and online disinformation. It also affects the Attorney General, who would be required to issue public corrective information when false statements about voting go uncorrected by state or local officials, following written procedures developed with election and civil rights groups, and to report to Congress after each general election on allegations, investigations, and enforcement actions. The bill was introduced August 5, 2025, by Rep. Jennifer McClellan and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not yet received a committee vote, floor vote, or further action.
- Has H.R. 4894 become law?
- Not yet. As of 5 Aug 2025, H.R. 4894 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4894?
- H.R. 4894 was sponsored by Rep. Jennifer McClellan [D-VA4] (Democrat-VA), with 34 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4894?
- Introduced (5 Aug 2025).
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