Representation of the People Act 1983

115 Undue influence [F1 : local government elections in Scotland and Wales]. U.K.

(1) A person shall be guilty of a corrupt practice if he is guilty of undue influence [F2 in relation to an election in Scotland or Wales under the local government Act].

(2) A person shall be guilty of undue influence [F3 in relation to an election in Scotland or Wales under the local government Act]—

(a) if he, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, makes use of or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflicts or threatens to inflict, by himself or by any other person, any temporal or spiritual injury, damage, harm or loss upon or against any person in order to induce or compel that person to vote or refrain from voting, or on account of that person having voted or refrained from voting; or

(b) if, by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance, he impedes or prevents [F4 , or intends to impede or prevent,] the free exercise of the franchise of an elector or proxy for an elector, or so compels, induces or prevails upon [F5 , or intends so to compel, induce or prevail upon,] an elector or proxy for an elector either to vote or to refrain from voting.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 115 heading inserted (1.11.2023) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 8(2)(c), 67(1); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 3(a)

F2 Words in s. 115(1) inserted (1.11.2023) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 8(2)(a), 67(1); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 3(a)

F3 Words in s. 115(2) inserted (1.11.2023) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 8(2)(b), 67(1); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 3(a)

F4 Words in s. 115(2)(b) inserted (11.9.2006) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 39(1)(a)(2), 77 (with s. 39(2)); S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 6 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 4, Sch. 2)

F5 Words in s. 115(2)(b) inserted (11.9.2006) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 39(1)(b)(2), 77 (with s. 39(2)); S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 6 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 4, Sch. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 111–117 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 Ss. 113-115 applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 1

Ss. 113-115 applied (W.) (24.3.2004) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/870), reg. 8, {Sch. 3 Table 2} (which S.I. was revoked (24.7.2008) by S.I. 2008/1848)

C3 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (2.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1298, reg. 8, Sch. 3 Table 2

C4 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)

C5 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

S. 115 applied (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art. 6, Sch. 2

C6 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 1

S. 115 applied (23.7.2004) by The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1962), art. 6(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 2

C7 S. 115 modified (S.) (29.1.2007) Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 14, 63; S.S.I. 2007/26, art. 2(1)(c)

C8 S. 115 applied (E.) (28.7.2007) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2089), regs. 8, 11, 13, {Sch. 4 Table 1}

C9 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (W.) (24.7.2008) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1848), reg. 8, {Sch. 4 para. 1 Table 1}

C10 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (26.2.2016) by The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/219), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 32 (with Sch. 1 para. 1(3))

C11 Ss. 111–117 applied (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C12 S. 115 excluded (1.11.2023) by S.I. 1987/1, rule 6(ea)(ii) (as inserted by The Local Government and Greater London Authority Elections (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1066), regs. 1(3), 2(3))

C13 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (E.) (9.2.2012) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums)(England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/323), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1 (as amended (1.11.2023) by The Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, Recall Petitions and Referendums (Ballot Secrecy, Candidates and Undue Influence) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1141), regs. 1(2), 5(b))

C14 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (3.8.2012) by The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2031), regs. 1, 8, 12, 13, Sch. 4 Pt. 1 (as amended (1.11.2023) by The Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, Recall Petitions and Referendums (Ballot Secrecy, Candidates and Undue Influence) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1141), regs. 1(2), 7(2)(b))

C15 S. 115 applied (with modifications) by The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2031), reg. 17, Sch. 8 Table 1 (as inserted (E.W.) (6.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/798, regs. 1, 7, Sch. 3) (as amended (1.11.2023) by The Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, Recall Petitions and Referendums (Ballot Secrecy, Candidates and Undue Influence) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1141), regs. 1(2), 7(3)(b))

C16 S. 115 applied (with modifications) (E.) (18.2.2012) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/444), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1 (with reg. 27) (as amended (1.11.2023) by The Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, Recall Petitions and Referendums (Ballot Secrecy, Candidates and Undue Influence) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1141), regs. 1(2), 6(b))