Deceptive Practices Prevention Act of 2005

by Jonah Goldman

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 commend Senator Obama for his leadership on this important issue.

Senator Obama’s bill provides comprehensive definitions of what constitutes a deceptive practice; criminalizes such practices; states appropriate penalties; outlines an innovative system to help disseminate information to voters; creates a reporting structure for incidents that will help citizens to address grievances; and calls on the Department of Justice to work with other Federal agencies, state officials, and leading civil rights and voter protection organizations to develop criteria outlined in the bill.

Voter harassment and intimidation at the polls is not a thing of the past. Through the 2004 Election Protection Hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE, we assisted over 200,000 voters and recorded over 40,000 election-related incidents. Many such incidents included deceptive practices such as distributing incorrect information about voter eligibility and polling locations, as well as incidents involving voter intimidation and harassment at the polls. Deceptive practices often target minority and low-income communities, curbing the right to vote for millions of Americans around the country.