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Inserts a new section (designated as section 8A) into the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 establishing protections against bad-faith challenges to voter registration status, requirements for challengers (clear and convincing evidence, oath/attestation under penalty of perjury, and same-registrar jurisdiction for individual challengers), and requirements for online portals.
Adds a new paragraph (4) to section 11(b) providing that for violations of the newly added section 8A the aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief election official under paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action, and that civil actions may seek compensatory damages plus punitive damages not to exceed $1,000 per violation in addition to declaratory and injunctive relief.
Modifies section 12 by replacing the initial words "A person" with "In general" and by adding a new subsection (b) creating criminal liability for persons who knowingly and negligently submit false formal challenges to a registrant's eligibility or who knowingly provide false information expecting it to be used to submit such a challenge.
This bill aims to stop bad‑faith challenges to voter registrations. It says that, unless you are an election official, you can only file a formal challenge if you have strong proof about that specific voter, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have personal knowledge, and, if you are an individual, you are registered in the same local area as the voter you are challenging. It also bans mass, computer‑based “data matching” as the basis for a challenge. State or local online challenge portals must reject anonymous challenges and clearly explain these rules .
People harmed by a bad‑faith challenge can sue right away, recover their costs, and get up to $1,000 in punitive damages per violation. Knowingly filing a false challenge, ignoring facts that show the voter is eligible, or sharing false information expecting someone else to use it to file a challenge can lead to fines and up to six months in jail; organizations can be fined $10,000 per violation. These changes apply to challenges made after the law takes effect.
Key points
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Nikema Williams · Last progress August 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Introduced in House