Elections: deceptive audio or visual media

The law preserves election-period protections against manipulated audio, video, or images that could harm candidates or mislead voters. It keeps fast-track court remedies available for affected candidates.

What the law does ​

• Extends until January 1, 2031, the ban on distributing malicious, materially deceptive media of a ballot candidate within 60 days before an election when intended to harm the candidate or deceive voters.
• Allows manipulated media if it carries a clear disclosure that the image, video, or audio has been manipulated.
• Keeps candidates’ ability to seek injunctions, damages, attorney’s fees, and costs, with these cases receiving expedited court scheduling.
• Preserves exemptions for specified news reporting, certain paid broadcasts, qualifying news publications, satire, parody, and protections for interactive service providers under federal law.

Who it affects ​

• Candidates whose voice or likeness is used in deceptive election-period media.
• Campaigns, committees, individuals, and organizations that distribute manipulated candidate media.
• Voters who receive candidate-related audio, video, or images near an election.

Context ​

The provisions otherwise would have expired on January 1, 2027.