The bill amends the Michigan election law by adding a new section, 931c, which establishes civil penalties for individuals who intentionally and knowingly make false statements or misrepresentations regarding elections. Specifically, it imposes a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation related to the time, place, or manner of an election, voter eligibility qualifications, criminal penalties associated with voting, or an individual's voter registration status. The bill defines that a false statement is made with the intent to impede or prevent another individual from exercising their right to vote.

Additionally, the bill holds entities that employ individuals for election-related purposes accountable for violations of this section, imposing a civil fine of up to $10,000 unless the entity can prove it had no prior knowledge of the individual's intent to make false statements. For local governments, there is a rebuttable presumption that they did not have prior knowledge of such violations. This legislation aims to enhance the integrity of the electoral process by deterring misinformation that could affect voter participation.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 168.1, 168.992
As Passed by the Senate: 168.1, 168.992