This bill amends New Jersey's identity theft laws to specifically prohibit election-related identity theft, including unlawful impersonation through false depictions such as deepfakes. It establishes that such impersonation, when done to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates or public questions, constitutes a crime of the third degree. If this impersonation occurs within 90 days of an election, it escalates to a crime of the second degree. The bill also enhances penalties for disseminating false campaign communications, upgrading the offense from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "benefit" to include actions that further a candidate's election or defeat, and it outlines the penalties associated with various degrees of identity theft and election-related fraud. A second-degree crime can result in imprisonment for five to ten years and fines up to $150,000, while a third-degree crime carries a potential prison term of three to five years and fines up to $15,000. The bill aims to strengthen the integrity of elections by addressing and penalizing deceptive practices that could undermine the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19:34-68