(1)A person commits an offence if the person signs the same recall petition, otherwise than by proxy, more than once.
(2)A person commits an offence if the person signs a recall petition in person or by post knowing that a person appointed to sign the petition as his or her proxy—
(a)has already signed the petition in person as his or her proxy, or
(b)in accordance with provision made by regulations under section 18, is entitled to sign the petition as his or her proxy by post.
(3)A person commits an offence if the person signs the same recall petition as proxy for the same person more than once.
(4)A person commits an offence if the person signs a recall petition as proxy for another person knowing that the other person has already signed the petition in person or by post.
(5)An offence under this section is treated—
(a)for the purposes of section 169 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (mode of prosecution and penalty for illegal practices) as an illegal practice,
(b)for the purposes of section 173 of that Act (incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice) as an illegal practice under section 61 of that Act (other voting offences),
(c)for the purposes of section 178 of that Act (prosecution of offences committed outside the United Kingdom) as an offence under that Act, and
(d)for the purposes of section 112 of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.)) (incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice) as an illegal practice under paragraph 12A of Schedule 9 to that Act (other voting offences).
(6)The court before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may, if it thinks it just in the special circumstances of the case, mitigate or entirely remit any incapacity imposed by virtue of—
(a)section 173 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, or
(b)section 112 of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.
Commencement Information
I1S. 12 in force at 4.3.2016 by S.I. 2016/290, reg. 2