Last week, I pointed out election offences and penalties. Based on the questions I have received, I need to explain what some of these offences entail.
Election paraphernalia refer to use of loud speakers, buntings, ensigns, banners, standards or set of colours or flags, with the intent that they be carried, worn or used on vehicles as political propaganda on polling day. Also, ribbons, labels, or like “flavor” to or for any person with the intent for it to be worn or used in any constituency on poling day as a party badge to distinguish the wearer as the supporter of any candidate or political party.
There are a few more offences that I need to share. During the hours that the poll is open on polling day no person shall, upon any public road or in any public place within one hundred yards of any building in which a polling station is situated, seek to influence any voter to vote for any candidate or to ascertain for what candidate any voter intends to vote or has voted. If convicted, a fine of $500.00 or imprisonment for six months or both can be applied.
If you disturb the voting process and ignore the warning of the Presiding Officer to cease and desist, he/she can cause you to be removed from the polling station and its precincts.
If a candidate who has been elected is certified by a Judge in an election petition questioning the winning of such candidate to have been personally guilty or guilty by his or her agents of any corrupt or illegal practice his or her election shall be void. Hmm.
A person commits an offence if he/she (a) votes, or induces or procures any person to vote, at any election, knowing that he or she or such other person is prohibited by this Act, or by any law in force in the State, from voting at such election; (b) before or during an election knowingly publishes a false statement of the withdrawal of a candidate at such election for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of another candidate; (c) between the date of the publication in the Gazette by the returning officer of a notice in accordance with the provisions of the law and the day after polling at the election, acts in a disorderly manner, with intent to prevent the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purpose of promoting the election of a candidate as a member to serve in the National Assembly. The penalty is a fine of $480.00 and banned for five years from the date of conviction, of being registered as a voter or of voting at any election.
A person who, between the date of the publication in the Gazette by the returning officer of a notice in accordance with the law and the day after polling at the election, incites, combines or conspires with others to act in a disorderly manner with intent to prevent the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purpose of promoting the election of a candidate as a member to serve in the National Assembly, commits an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for two years, and be incapable, during a period of five years from the date of conviction, of being registered as a voter or of voting at any election.
The effort continues for one man to vote in the right place and fairness for all.
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