To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to voter intimidation, and for other purposes.

October 7, 2004

Mr. CUMMINGS (for himself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. LEE, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, and Mr. FATTAH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to voter intimidation, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Voter Protection Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. VOTER PROTECTION.

(a) In General- Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 249. Interfering with voting through misrepresentation

`Whoever willfully provides misleading or fraudulent information to an individual and thereby interferes with that individual's voting or qualifying to vote, qualifying or campaigning as a candidate for elective office, or qualifying or acting as a poll watcher, or any legally authorized election official, in any primary, special, or general election, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`249. Interfering with voting through misrepresentation.'.

END