H.R. 4913 — CHALLENGES Act

This section amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by inserting new section 8A to prohibit non-election officials from submitting formal challenges to a registered voter's eligibility for federal elections unless they provide (1) clear and convincing evidence from a specific inquiry (not mass computerized data matching), (2) an oath of personal knowledge under penalty of perjury, and (3)—if an individual challenger—proof of registration in the same jurisdiction; it also requires state or local online challenge portals to reject anonymous submissions and display the prohibition. It further amends NVRA section 11(b) by adding paragraph (4), which—for violations of new section 8A—waives the presuit notice requirement to the state election official and authorizes compensatory damages for the aggrieved person's losses plus punitive damages up to $1,000 per violation (in addition to declaratory or injunctive relief). The section also amends NVRA section 12 by adding subsection (b) to impose criminal penalties for knowing or negligent false challenges to voter eligibility (including providing false information expected to prompt a challenge), consisting of fines under 18 U.S.C., imprisonment up to 6 months, or both ($10,000 per violation for non-individuals). The amendments apply to challenges submitted after enactment.