                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COMMUNICATION OF FALSE INFORMATION TO REGISTERED VOTER (§ 24.2-1005.1)

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to communicate to a registered voter, by
any means, false information, knowing the same to be false, intended to impede
the voter in the exercise of his right to vote. The provisions of this section
shall apply to information only about the date, time, and place of the election,
or the voter&#8217;s precinct, polling place, or voter registration status, or
the location of a voter satellite office or the office of the general registrar.

B. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor.
			Such violation may be prosecuted either in the jurisdiction from which the
communication was made or in the jurisdiction in which the communication was
received.

C. In addition to the criminal penalty provided in subsection B, a violation of
the provisions of this section shall also create a cause of action. A registered
voter to whom such false information is communicated shall be entitled to
institute an action for preventative relief, including an application for a
permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against
the person communicating such false information. The action shall be instituted
in the circuit court of either the jurisdiction from which the communication was
made or the jurisdiction in which the communication was received. In any such
action, the court may, in its discretion, allow a private plaintiff a reasonable
attorney fee as part of the costs, if such plaintiff is the prevailing party.

HISTORY: 2007, c. 313; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 528, 533.