Article 13 Other offences relating to absent votingI1

England and Wales

(1)

A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if P—

(a)

engages in a relevant act specified in paragraph (2) at a Senedd election, and

(b)

intends, by doing so, to—

(i)

deprive another of an opportunity to vote,

(ii)

make for P or another, a gain of a vote to which P or the other is not otherwise entitled, or

(iii)

make for P or another, a gain of money or property.

(2)

The relevant acts are—

(a)

applying for a postal or a proxy vote as some other person, whether that other person is living or dead or is a fictitious person,

(b)

otherwise making a false statement in, or in connection with, an application for a postal or a proxy vote,

(c)

inducing the registration officer to send a postal ballot paper, or any communication relating to a postal or a proxy vote, to an address which has not been agreed to by the person entitled to the vote,

(d)

causing a communication relating to a postal or a proxy vote, or containing a postal ballot paper, not to be delivered to the intended recipient, and

(e)

those acts listed at article 31.

(3)

In paragraph (1)(b)(iii), property includes any description of property.

(4)

In paragraph (2), a reference to a postal vote or a postal ballot paper includes a reference to a proxy postal vote or a proxy postal ballot paper.

(5)

A person who is guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of such an offence is guilty of a corrupt practice and is liable on conviction in accordance with article 121.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 13 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)