Bill: Pending Electoral Offences Act

[Imza]

A
BILL
To
Protect Electoral Integrity​

The people of the Commonwealth of Redmont, through their elected Representatives in the Congress and the force of law ordained to that Congress by the people through the constitution, do hereby enact the following provisions into law:

1 - Short Title and Enactment
(1) This Act may be cited as the 'Electoral Offences Act'
(2) This Act shall be enacted immediately upon its signage.
(3) This Act has been authored and proposed by Representative RealImza.
(4) This Act has been co-sponsored by Deputy President of the Senate Sofia2750.


2 - Reasons
(1) With the passing of the Criminal Code Act, many offences not included in it, including Harassment of a Polling Place and Interfering with a Polling Place, became moot.
(2) These two crimes are essential to protecting electoral integrity.
(3) This act aims to consolidate the original definitions for both, creating a consolidated offence that ensures polling places are protected.

3 - Amendment
Part II of the Criminal Code Act shall be amended as follows:

6 - Harassment of a Polling Place
Offence Type: Indictable
Penalty:
(a) First offence - Up to 100 Penalty Units; up to 10 minutes imprisonment; Up to 2 months disqualification from office.
(b) Subsequent offences - Up to 250 Penalty Units; up to 25 minutes imprisonment; Up to 2 months disqualification from office.
A person commits an offence if the person:
(a) Engages in any conduct inside a building containing a polling place or within 50 blocks of a building where a polling place is located that:
(i) interferes with the freedom of voters to vote; or
(ii) disrupts the administration of the polling place; or
(iii) violates the restrictions set out in §13(2) of the Electoral Act.
Relevant Law: Act of Congress - Electoral Act

(2) Section 13 of the Electoral Act shall be amended as follows:

13 - Polling Places

(1) Selection. Polling places are selected by the DOS.
(a) Consideration must be taken to ensure accessibility, convenience, and efficiency for voters (major landmarks, access to /spawns and public transportation).
(b) Polling places must be on public land or in public buildings.
(c) There must be at least one polling place in the Department of State building.

(2) Restrictions. In order to ensure a neutral and focused voting environment, campaign-related advertising (Includes, but is not limited to, physical campaign propaganda and person-to-person campaigning) is prohibited within:

(a) within 50 blocks of a building where a polling place is located; or
(b) inside a building containing a polling place.

(a) 25 blocks of a ballot box (a block registered as a poll); and
(b) inside a building containing a polling place.
(c) Failure to comply:

Interfering with a Polling Place
Obstructing or Interrupting the conduct of a polling place.
Per Offence: $1000 Fine + 10 minutes jail

Harassment of a Polling Place
Failure to comply with polling place restrictions as defined in the Electoral Act.
Per Offence: $10,000 fine
Three or more offences: Up to $50,000 fine + up to 20 minutes jail + 1 month removal from public office

 

[Smami]

Aye, I agree with the stated purpose for this bill