Offences relating to applications for postal and proxy votesS
4(1)A person (“A”) commits an offence if A—S
(a)engages in an act specified in sub-paragraph (2) in connection with the referendum, and
(b)intends, by doing so, to deprive another of an opportunity to vote in the referendum or to make for A or another a gain of a vote in the referendum to which A or the other is not otherwise entitled or a gain of money or property.
(2)These are the acts—
(a)applying for a postal or proxy vote as some other person (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 for a postal or proxy vote or providing false information in, or in connection with, such an application,
(c)inducing the registration officer or counting officer to send a postal ballot paper or any communication relating to a postal or proxy vote to an address which has not been agreed to by the person entitled to the vote,
(d)causing a communication relating to a postal or proxy vote or containing a postal ballot paper not to be delivered to the intended recipient.
(3)In sub-paragraph (1)(b), property includes any description of property.
(4)In sub-paragraph (2), a reference to a postal vote or a postal ballot paper includes a reference to a proxy postal vote or proxy postal ballot paper (as the case may be).
(5)A person commits a corrupt practice if the person commits an offence under sub-paragraph (1) or aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of that offence.