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Bill

MD

Bill

A 3600

Prohibits election-related identity theft; upgrades dissemination of false campaign communications to third degree crime.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Mitchelle Drulis and 1 co-sponsor

Strengthens election integrity by criminalizing election-related impersonation and deepfakes, raising penalties for false election communications, and enabling corrective court ord

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3600

Overview

A 3600 (Session 222, New Jersey) amends New Jersey’s identity theft and election laws to:

  • prohibit unlawful impersonation or deception in connection with elections (including deepfakes and other false representations).
  • upgrade the dissemination of false election communications to a third-degree crime (from a lesser offense).
  • align penalties and procedures with the Fair Campaign Practices Act and ensure corrective court orders for false records.

The bill was introduced January 13, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. It includes co-sponsors Mitchelle Drulis and Lou Greenwald and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Main purpose and intent

  • Strengthen election integrity by making unlawful impersonation related to elections a more serious crime.
  • Target deceptive actions that aim to influence elections or public questions, including modern forms of impersonation using technology (e.g., deepfakes).
  • Increase accountability for false election advertising that misrepresents its origin or intent to influence a campaign.

Key provisions and changes

1) Amends N.J.S.2C:21-17 (Identity Theft Statute)
- Expands the definitions of unlawful impersonation and deception to cover election-related contexts, including:
- Impersonating or falsely depicting another to obtain a benefit or to injure/defraud.
- Pretending to be a representative of a person or organization for benefit or fraud.
- Impersonating or misrepresenting identity in applications for services.
- Obtaining and using someone’s personal identifying information to assume their identity or to fraudulently obtain benefits or services, or to avoid debt or prosecution.
- Impersonating or misrepresenting identity in service applications to avoid payment for prior services.
- Includes use of electronic communications, software, or the Internet as possible means.
- Adds a specific scope for “benefit” to include political outcomes (nomination, election, defeat of a candidate, or passage/defeat of a public question).
- Classifies violations by degree and monetary thresholds:
- Less than $500 in benefit and a single victim: fourth degree (with 2nd+ conviction elevating to third degree).
- At least $500 but less than $75,000, or 2–4 victims, or actions in furtherance of a campaign (except within 90 days of an election): third degree.
- $75,000 or more, or 5+ victims, or actions clearly in furtherance of a campaign within 90 days of an election: second degree.
- Within 90 days before an election, campaign-related impersonation actions are raised to second degree, reflecting heightened seriousness near elections.
- Court orders: sentencing court may issue orders to correct false public records or government documents and may award restitution.

2) Amends P.L.1975, c.190 (Fair Campaign Practices Act)
- Reclassifies violations of the Fair Campaign Practices Act as:
- Disorderly persons offense for most violations.
- A crime of the third degree specifically for violations of section 3 (unrelated to the general reclassifications), maintaining a higher penalty for certain violations.

3) Effective date
- The act takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Who and what is affected

  • Individuals engaging in election-related impersonation or deception (including use of deepfakes or false representations) may face higher-level criminal charges, depending on impact, number of victims, and proximity to elections.
  • People who knowingly produce, disseminate, or transmit false election advertisements designed to impede campaigns, by concealing their origin, face upgraded penalties (disorderly to third-degree).
  • Campaigns, political organizations, and providers of electronic communications and advertisements are indirectly affected, due to stricter enforcement and potential restitution obligations.
  • Courts: allowed to issue corrective orders to fix false records and order restitution where appropriate.

Procedural and timing considerations

  • Immediate effect: the bill provides for immediate implementation if enacted, with no delayed operative date.
  • Penalty framework tiers align with monetary thresholds and number of victims, plus election proximity (within 90 days) triggering higher degrees of offense.
  • Enhanced penalties near elections signal a policy emphasis on protecting electoral processes during critical periods.

Potential impacts to consider

  • Deterrence: higher penalties may deter election-related impersonation and manipulation.
  • Enforcement: law enforcement and prosecutors gain new tools and thresholds for prosecuting impersonation and deceptive campaign communications.
  • First amendment considerations: as with any election-related communications, potential debates about permissible political speech versus deceptive practices; this bill targets impersonation and concealment of origin.
  • Administrative: courts may incur duties to issue corrective orders for false records and potentially award restitution to victims.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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