Ahead of the general elections today, it becomes paramount for every eligible voter to be abrest with the electoral laws, offences and penalty to be on the right side of the law.
Offences:
Within a distance of 300 meters of a polling unit:
a. Canvassing for votes, persuading any voter not to vote for any particular candidate or displaying party symbol or card.
b. Using any vehicle bearing the color or symbol of a political party, loitering around a polling unit, blaring siren.
Penalty: Fine of #100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months.
Offences:
a. Unlawful possession of ballot paper
b. Illegal printing of ballot papers
c. Illegal production of ballot papers.
No matter how rough it gets, don’t improvise on your terms.
Penalty is maximum fine of #50 million or of imprisonment, not less than 10 years, or both.
Offence: Voting or attempting to vote when you’re not qualified, or inducing someone who’s not qualified to vote.
Penalty: Maximum fine of #500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.
Offence: Announcing or publishing a false election result.
Penalty: 36 months imprisonment
Offence: Collation or Returning officer or person delivering a false certificate of return.
Penalty: 3 years imprisonment with no option of fine.
Offence:
a. Paying bribe to affect the result of an election.
b. Receiving any money or gift to vote or refrain from voting.
Penalty: A maximum fine of #500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both.
Offence:
a. Not maintaining secrecy of voting at a polling unit.
b. Interfering with a voter casting their vote
Penalty: Maximum fine of #100,000 or 6months imprisonment or both.
Offences:
a. Threatening a person with violence or injury to compel the person to vote or refrain them from voting.
Penalty: A fine of #1 million or imprisonment for a term of three years
Offence: Unlawful possession of Weapon at a rally or voting center.
Penalty: Maximum fine of #2 million or imprisonment for a term of two years or both.
Offence:
Snatching or destruction of any election material
Penalty: 24 months imprisonment
