Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation

Voter harassment and intimidation at the polls is not a thing of the past. Deceptive practices deliberately mislead or intimidate voters in an attempt to alter the outcome of an election.  Often targeted at traditionally disenfranchised communities including minority voters, language minorities, seniors, and young people, deceptive practices and voter intimidation intentionally curb the right to vote for millions of Americans around the country. Those who wish to intimidate voters have turned to more sophisticated and nuanced devices to fraudulently prevent turnout in targeted communities, trying to win elections through fraud instead of through the democratic process.

Learn more at Stop Deceptive Practices

Contact your Senators to help support the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act

Learn more about Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation

Legislation

Recent News

June 25, 2007:The Lawyers’ Committee congratulates Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL), and the rest of our Congressional champions on the passage of the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act (H.R. 1281) today. The House’s actions are a giant step towards making voter intimidation and harassment a thing of the past. The Lawyers’ Committee looks forward to the bill swiftly reaching the floor of the Senate to ensure this important law is in place well before next year’s crucial elections.

Click here to view the letter the Lawyers’ Committee sent to the House prior to the vote.

Learn more about the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act by visiting Stop Deceptive Practices.

April 9, 2007:The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act (H.R. 1281) was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee on March 29, 2007, and will soon head to the floor for debate. Sponsored by Representatives Rahm Emanuel, John Conyers, Mike Honda, Xavier Becerra, Keith Ellison, Rush Holt and over 40 of their colleagues, H.R. 1281 addresses a key problem uncovered by Election Protection in the 2004 and 2006 election cycles: deliberate deceptions aimed at preventing eligible voters from casting a meaningful ballot. This bill is the House companion to Senators Obama and Schumer’s Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act.

Visit Stop Deceptive Practices to learn more and take action in support of this critical legislation.

Read the bill here

January 31, 2007: Over the past two election cycles, Election Protection has documented attempts to influence voters through dirty tricks from across the country. Voters deserve better. And now you have an opportunity to do something about it. Senators Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer, responding to the evidence provided by the National Campaign, has introduced comprehensive legislation to provide real solutions to the deception and fraud Americans face when they attempt to vote. Act now to urge your senators to co-sponsor The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007.

November 5, 2005: The National Campaign for Fair Elections worked closely with Senator Barack Obama in drafting the “Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2005.” This important legislation will help ensure that every eligible voter has the right to cast a meaningful ballot by preventing the practices that have historically prevented minority voters from participating in the political process.

We are also working with our partners in the states to introduce state-specific correlative bills. Minnesota, Mississippi and Ohio have already introduced deceptive practices prevention legislation, and we are working with allies in other states to follow suit.

Read the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2005

The Lawyers’ Committee asked the Department of Justice to investigate Florida law enforcement agents who were intimidtaing minority and elderly voters during the 2004 Florida primary elections.

Read our letter to the Department of Justice here