Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1281
Sponsor: Rep. Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL-5]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional elections
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Department of Justice
Election fraud
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Executive reorganization
Fines (Penalties)
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Informers
Law
Presidential elections
Prosecution
Public broadcasting
Public service advertising
Science, Technology, Communications
Sentencing guidelines
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for anyone, within 60 days before a federal election, to knowingly communicate, or attempt to communicate, false election-related information about that election, with the intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote.
 
Increases the penalty for intimidation of voters.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under this Act.
 
Authorizes any person to report to the Attorney General false election information or intimidation of voters.
 
Requires the Attorney General, immediately after receiving such a report, to consider and review it and, if there is a reasonable basis to find that a violation has occurred, to: (1) undertake all effective measures necessary to provide correct information to voters affected by the false information; (2) refer any pertinent matter to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for prosecution; and (3) refer the matter to the appropriate federal and state authorities for criminal prosecution or civil action after the election. 
 
Directs the Attorney General to study the feasibility of providing such corrective information through public service announcements, the emergency alert system, or other forms of public broadcast.
 
Requires the Attorney General to establish a Voting Integrity Task Force.

action_date: 2007-04-18
text: 
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for anyone before a federal election to knowingly communicate, or attempt to communicate, false election-related information about that election, with the intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote.
 
Increases from one year to five year's imprisonment the criminal penalty for intimidation of voters.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under this Act.

Authorizes any person to report to the Attorney General false election information or intimidation of voters.

Requires the Attorney General, immediately after receiving such a report, to consider and review it and, if there is a reasonable basis to find that a violation has occurred, to: (1) undertake all effective measures necessary to provide correct information to voters affected by the false information; (2) refer any pertinent matter to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for prosecution; and (3) refer the matter to the appropriate federal and state authorities for criminal prosecution or civil action after the election. 
 
Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of providing such corrective information through public service announcements, the emergency alert system, or other forms of public broadcast.
 
Requires the Attorney General to establish a Voting Integrity Task Force to carry out the requirements of this Act with respect to any general, primary, run-off, or special election for federal office.

action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for anyone before or during a federal election to knowingly communicate, or attempt to communicate, false election-related information about that election, with the intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote.
 
Increases from one year to five years' imprisonment the criminal penalty for intimidation of voters.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under this Act.

Authorizes any person to report to the Attorney General false election information or intimidation of voters.
 
Requires the Attorney General, immediately after receiving such a report, to consider and review it and, if there is a reasonable basis to find that a violation has occurred, to: (1) undertake all effective measures necessary to provide correct information to voters affected by the false information; and (2) refer the matter to the appropriate federal and state authorities for criminal prosecution or civil action after the election. 
 
Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of providing such corrective information through public service announcements, the emergency alert system, or other forms of public broadcast.
 
Requires the Attorney General to establish a Voting Integrity Task Force to carry out the requirements of this Act with respect to any general, primary, run-off, or special election for federal office.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7043-7044)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7043-7044)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1281.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7043-7048)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 61.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-101.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-101.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in House