text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Deceptive Practices and Voter 
  Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is 
  amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``Sec. 618. Deceptive practices in Federal elections
      ``(a) Whoever, before or during a Federal election knowingly 
  communicates election-related information about that election, knowing 
  that information to be false, with the intent to prevent another person 
  from exercising the right to vote in that election, or attempts to do 
  so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 
  years, or both.
      ``(b) As used in this section--
              ``(1) the term `Federal election' means any general, 
          primary, run-off, or special election for the office of 
          President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the 
          Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate or 
          Commissioner from a territory or possession; and
              ``(2) the term `election related information' means 
          information regarding--
                      ``(A) the time, place, or manner of conducting the 
                  election;
                      ``(B) the qualifications for or restrictions on 
                  voter eligibility for the election, including--
                              ``(i) any criminal penalties associated 
                          with voting in the election; or
                              ``(ii) information regarding a voter's 
                          registration status or eligibility;
                      ``(C) with respect to a closed primary election, 
                  the political party affiliation of any candidate for 
                  office, if the communication of the information also 
                  contains false information described in subparagraph 
                  (A) or (B); or
                      ``(D) the explicit endorsement by any person or 
                  organization of a candidate running for any office 
                  voted on in the election.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of 
  title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
  following new item:
  
  ``618. Deceptive practices in Federal elections.''.
  
  SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF PENALTY FOR VOTER INTIMIDATION.
  
      Section 594 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
  ``one year'' and inserting ``5 years''.
  
  SEC. 4. SENTENCING GUIDELINES.
  
      (a) Review and Amendment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
  enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission, 
  pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States 
  Code, and in accordance with this section, shall review and, if 
  appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy 
  statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under 
  sections of title 18, United States Code, that are added or modified by 
  this Act.
      (b) Authorization.--The United States Sentencing Commission may, 
  for the purposes of the amendments made pursuant to this section, amend 
  the Federal sentencing guidelines in accordance with the procedures set 
  forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987 (28 U.S.C. 994 
  note) as though the authority under that section had not expired.
  
  SEC. 5. REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND REMEDIAL ACTION.
  
      (a) Reporting.--Any person may report to the Attorney General any 
  violation or possible violation of section 594 or 618 of title 18, 
  United States Code.
      (b) Corrective Action.--
              (1) In general.--Immediately after receiving a report under 
          subsection (a), the Attorney General shall consider and review 
          such report and, if the Attorney General determines that there 
          is a reasonable basis to find that a violation has occurred, 
          the Attorney General shall--
                      (A) undertake all effective measures necessary to 
                  provide correct information to voters affected by the 
                  false information; and
                      (B) refer the matter to the appropriate Federal and 
                  State authorities for criminal prosecution or civil 
                  action after the election.
              (2) Regulations.--
                      (A) In general.--The Attorney General shall 
                  promulgate regulations regarding the methods and means 
                  of corrective actions to be taken under paragraph (1). 
                  Such regulations shall be developed in consultation 
                  with the Election Assistance Commission, civil rights 
                  organizations, voting rights groups, State and local 
                  election officials, voter protection groups, and other 
                  interested community organizations.
                      (B) Study.--
                              (i) In general.--The Attorney General, in 
                          consultation with the Federal Communications 
                          Commission and the Election Assistance 
                          Commission, shall conduct a study on the 
                          feasibility of providing the corrective 
                          information under paragraph (1) through public 
                          service announcements, the emergency alert 
                          system, or other forms of public broadcast.
                              (ii) Report.--Not later than 180 days after 
                          the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
                          Attorney General shall submit to Congress a 
                          report detailing the results of the study 
                          conducted under clause (i).
              (3) Publicizing remedies.--The Attorney General shall make 
          public through the Internet, radio, television, and newspaper 
          advertisements information on the responsibilities, contact 
          information, and complaint procedures applicable under this 
          section.
      (c) Reports to Congress.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after any primary, 
          general, or run-off election for Federal office, the Attorney 
          General shall submit to Congress a report compiling and 
          detailing any allegations of false information submitted 
          pursuant to subsection (a) and relating to such election.
              (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
          shall include--
                      (A) detailed information on specific allegations of 
                  deceptive tactics;
                      (B) statistical compilations of how many 
                  allegations were made and of what type;
                      (C) the geographic locations of and the populations 
                  affected by the alleged deceptive information;
                      (D) the status of the investigations of such 
                  allegations;
                      (E) any corrective actions taken in response to 
                  such allegations;
                      (F) the rationale used for any corrective actions 
                  or for any refusal to pursue an allegation;
                      (G) the effectiveness of any such corrective 
                  actions;
                      (H) whether a Voting Integrity Task Force was 
                  established with respect to such election, and, if so, 
                  how such task force was staffed and funded;
                      (I) any referrals of information to other Federal, 
                  State, or local agencies;
                      (J) any suit instituted under section 2004(b)(2) of 
                  the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1971(b)(2)) in 
                  connection with such allegations; and
                      (K) any criminal prosecution instituted under title 
                  18, United States Code, in connection with such 
                  allegations.
              (3) Report made public.--On the date that the Attorney 
          General submits the report required under paragraph (1), the 
          Attorney General shall also make the report publicly available 
          through the Internet and other appropriate means.
      (d) Delegation of Duties.--
              (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall delegate the 
          responsibilities under this section to a Voting Integrity Task 
          Force established under paragraph (2).
              (2) Voting integrity task force.--
                      (A) In general.--The Attorney General shall 
                  establish a Voting Integrity Task Force to carry out 
                  the requirements of this section with respect to any 
                  general, primary, run-off, or special election for 
                  Federal office.
                      (B) Composition.--Any Voting Integrity Task Force 
                  established under paragraph (1) shall be under the 
                  direction of the Assistant Attorney General for the 
                  Civil Rights Division and the Assistant Attorney 
                  General for the Criminal Division, jointly.
      (e) Federal Office.--For purposes of this section, the term 
  ``Federal office'' means the office of President, Vice President, 
  presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of 
  Representatives, or Delegate or Commissioner from a territory or 
  possession of the United States.
  
              Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2007.
  
              Attest:
  
                                              LORRAINE C. MILLER,
  
                                                                   Clerk.
target: 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.
feat_title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain deceptive practices in Federal elections, and for other purposes.