Use direct democracy to enact deepfake regulations where legislatures are resistant.
Use ballot measures to put enforceable deepfake rules directly to voters in states where legislatures won’t act. Treat this as a process-heavy, full-cycle campaign: draft clear language with satire/parody protections, qualify it under state rules, and run a persuasion plan that frames the measure as election integrity and basic disclosure.
Why this works
- In some swing states or those with divided government, voters themselves might approve measures to ban deceptive deepfakes – such measures can be popular if framed as protecting election integrity.
- Ballot initiatives can circumvent partisan gridlock: for example, if a legislature is reluctant (perhaps due to lobbying or ideological reasons), a voter referendum (as was done to implement independent redistricting or voting expansions in some states) could succeed.
- This also raises public awareness in the campaign process.
League of Women Voters
AdvocacyEmpowering voters and defending democracy
Mechanism
About Ballot MeasuresHow League of Women Voters uses funding
- Draft and file measure language under state rules, including disclosure requirements and satire/parody carve-outs.
- Gather signatures to qualify and plan for verification and procedural challenges.
- Run the public campaign through Election Day with outreach, persuasion, and coalition coordination.
- Prepare for implementation and defense after the vote, including legal and administrative follow-through.
- Publish milestone updates so supporters can track qualification and campaign progress.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Measure language drafted + filed
0–30 daysText includes disclosure, penalties for knowing deception, and speech safeguards.
- 2
Qualification plan launched
1–3 monthsSignature operations run with a verification and deadline plan.
- 3
Persuasion campaign ramp
3–6 monthsMessaging, outreach, and coalition coordination operate at campaign scale.
- 4
Post-election follow-through prepared
OngoingImplementation guidance and legal defense posture are ready if the measure passes.