Part 1 SLocal government elections

False informationS

13False information in nomination papers etc.S

After section 65A of the 1983 Act (false information in nomination papers etc. at elections other than Scottish local government elections) insert—

65BScottish local government elections: false information in nomination papers etc.

(1)This section applies in relation to a local government election in Scotland.

(2)A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if he causes or permits to be included in a document delivered or otherwise furnished to a returning officer for use in connection with the election—

(a)a statement of the name or home address of a candidate at the election which he knows to be false in any particular; or

(b)anything which purports to be the signature of an elector who proposes, seconds or assents to the nomination of such a candidate but which he knows—

(i)was not written by the elector by whom it purports to have been written; or

(ii)if written by that elector, was not written by him for the purpose of signifying that he was proposing, seconding or, as the case may be, assenting to that candidate's nomination.

(3)A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if he makes in any document in which he gives his consent to his nomination as a candidate at the election—

(a)a statement of his date of birth; or

(b)a statement as to his qualification for being elected at the election,

which he knows to be false in any particular.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) above, a statement as to a candidate's qualification is a statement—

(a)that he is qualified for being elected;

(b)that he will be qualified for being elected; or

(c)that to the best of his knowledge and belief he is not disqualified for being elected..