PART 6OFFENCES
Offences relating to applications for postal and proxy signing120.
(1)
A person commits an offence if they—
(a)
engage in an act specified in paragraph (2) in relation to a petition; and
(b)
intend by doing so to deprive another person of an opportunity to sign the petition, to secure a signature on the petition, or to gain money or property of any description.
(2)
These are the acts—
(a)
applying as some other person to sign a petition by post or proxy (whether that other person is living or dead or is a fictitious person);
(b)
otherwise making a false statement in, or in connection with, an application to sign a petition by post or proxy;
(c)
inducing the petition officer to send a postal signing sheet or any communication relating to signing a petition by post or proxy to an address which has not been agreed to by the person entitled to sign the petition;
(d)
causing a communication relating to signing a petition by post or proxy or containing a postal signing sheet not to be delivered to the intended recipient.
(3)
In paragraph (2), a reference to signing the petition by post includes signing the petition by post as a proxy and postal signing sheet is to be construed accordingly.
(4)
A person who commits an offence under paragraph (1) or who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of such an offence is guilty of a corrupt practice.