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HR 97 111th Congress House

Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2009

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain deceptive practices in Federal elections, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 14, 2009 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and records
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Criminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of JusticeElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency communications systemsExecutive agency funding and structureFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsVoting rights
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Jan 7, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E27)
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 6, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 12, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2009 - 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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 97: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-97/
MLA
"H.R. 97: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-97/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 97, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-97/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 97: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-97/)
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