HC Deb 13 July 1883 vol 281 cc1460-3

On the Motion of The ATTORNEY GENERAL, the following Amendments were agreed to:—In page 50, line 16, in third column, leave out "section twenty-four," and insert "Part III.;" page 50, line 27, at end, add—

44 and 45 Vict. c. 45.

The Universities Elections Amendment (Scotland) Act, 1881.

Sub-section seventeen of section two.

In page 50, line 28, at end of Schedule, add,—

Part Three.

Enactments defining the offences of bribery and personation.

The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1854, 17 and 18 Vic. c. 102, ss. 2, 3,

(Bribery defined.)

"2. The following persons shall be deemed guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable ad-cordingly:—

  1. (1.) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise, or promise to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money, or valuable consideration, to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person in order to induce any voter to vote, or refrain from voting, or shall corruptly do any such act as aforesaid, on account of such voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election;
  2. (2.) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, give or procure, or agree to give or procure, or offer, promise, or promise to procure or to endeavour to procure, any office, place, or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote, or refrain from voting, or shall corruptly do any such act as aforesaid, on account of any voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election;
  3. (3.) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, make any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement as aforesaid, to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the return of any person to serve in Parliament, or the vote of any voter at any election;
  4. (4.) Every person who shall, upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, procure or engage, promise, or endeavour to procure the return of any person to serve in Parliament, or the vote of any voter at an election;
  5. (5.) Every person who shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person with the intent that such money or any part thereof shall be expended in bribery at any election, or who shall knowingly pay or cause to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any election,"

(Bribery further defined.)

"3. The following persons shall also be deemed guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable accordingly:—

  1. (1.) Every voter who shall, before or during any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree, or contract for any money, gift, loan, or valuable consideration, office, place, or employment, for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining 1462 or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election;
  2. (2.) Every person who shall, after any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any election."

The Representation of the People Act, 1867, 30 and 31 Vic. c. 102, s. 49.

(Corrupt payment of rates to be punishable as bribery.)

"Any person, either directly or indirectly, corruptly paying any rate on behalf of any ratepayer for the purpose of enabling him to be registered as a voter, thereby to influence his vote at any future election, and any candidate or other person, either directly or indirectly, paying any rate on behalf of any voter for the purpose of inducing him to vote or refrain from voting, shall be guilty of bribery, and be punishable accordingly; and any person on whose behalf and with whose privity any such payment as in this section is mentioned is made, shall also be guilty of bribery, and punishable accordingly."

The Representation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868, 31 and 32 Vic. c. 48, s. 49.

(Corrupt payment of rates to be punishable as bribery.)

"Any person, either directly or indirectly, corruptly paying any rate on behalf of any ratepayer for the purpose of enabling him to be registered as a voter, thereby to influence his vote at any future election, and any candidate or other person, either directly or indirectly, paying any rate on behalf of any voter for the purpose of inducing him to vote or refrain from voting, shall be guilty of bribery, and be punishable accordingly; and any person on whoso behalf and with whose privity any such payment as in this section mentioned is made, shall also be guilty of bribery, and punishable accordingly."

The Universities Elections Amendment (Scotland) Act, 1881, 44 and 45 Vic. c. 43, s. 2.

(Corrupt payment of registration fee to be punishable as bribery.)

"(17.) Any person, either directly or indirectly, corruptly paying any fee for the purpose of enabling any person to be registered as a member of the general council, and thereby to influence his vote at any future election, and any candidate or other person, either directly or indirectly, paying such fee on behalf of any person for the purpose of inducing him to vote or to refrain from voting, shall be guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable accordingly; and any person on whose behalf and with whose privity any such payment as in this section mentioned is made, shall also be guilty of bribery, and punishable accordingly."

The Ballot Act, 1872, 35 and 36 Vic. c. 33, s. 24. (Personation defined.)

"A person shall for all purposes of the Laws relating to parliamentary and municipal elections be deemed to be guilty of the offence of personation who, at an election for a county or borough, or at a municipal election, applies for a ballot paper in the name of some other person, whether that name be that of a person living or dead, or of a fictitious person, or who, having voted once at any such election, applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name."

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.