Overview

The Representation of the People (Undue Influence) Bill aims to strengthen existing laws against undue influence in elections by explicitly criminalizing actions designed to undermine the electoral system or mislead voters. This is achieved by amending the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Description

This Bill amends Section 115 of the Representation of the People Act 1983. The amendment adds a new clause (c) to subsection 2, defining a new form of undue influence. This new clause criminalizes:

• Systematic efforts or contrivances to induce or mislead electors (or proxies) to vote for a particular party or candidate.
• Situations where the aim is to accumulate votes for a candidate whose objectives include undermining the electoral system or deliberately misleading the electorate.

The Bill clarifies existing law to specifically target those who manipulate the electoral process for their own gain or to the detriment of fair elections.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any changes to government spending. The cost of enforcing the new law would likely depend on the number of prosecutions and subsequent legal proceedings.

Groups Affected

The bill would directly affect:

• Political parties and candidates: Those engaging in actions now explicitly defined as undue influence would face legal consequences.
• Electoral officials: They would be responsible for enforcing the amended law and investigating potential violations.
• Voters: Voters may be more protected from manipulative electioneering practices.

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