Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013

Payments to voters for exhibition of referendum notices

9 (1) No payment or contract for payment may, for the purposes of promoting a particular outcome in the referendum, be made to a voter on account of—

(a) the exhibition of, or

(b) the use of any house, land, building or premises for the exhibition of,

any bill, advertisement or notice.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if—

(a) it is the ordinary business of the voter to exhibit bills, advertisements or notices for payment, and

(b) the payment or contract is made in the ordinary course of that business.

(3) If a payment or contract for payment is knowingly made in contravention of sub-paragraph (1) (whether before, during or after the referendum), each of the following persons commits an offence—

(a) the person who makes the payment or enters into the contract,

(b) the person who receives the payment or is a party to the contract (if the person knows the payment or contract is in contravention of sub-paragraph (1)).

(4) An offence under sub-paragraph (3) is an illegal practice.