In the Representation of the People Act 1983, before section 63 insert—

“62CInfluencing voters at polling booths

(1)

A person who—

(a)

is with another person at a polling booth, and

(b)

intends to influence that other person to vote in a particular way or to refrain from voting,

commits an offence.

(2)

A person who—

(a)

is near a polling booth when another person is at that booth, and

(b)

intends to influence that other person to vote in a particular way or to refrain from voting,

commits an offence.

(3)

For the purposes of this section—

(a)

a “polling booth” is a compartment in a polling station in which voters can mark votes screened from observation;

(b)

assisting a person with voting, in accordance with rule 39 of Schedule 1 or any other legislation, is not influencing that person to vote in a particular way or to refrain from voting;

(c)

a person may be near one polling booth while at a different polling booth.

(4)

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—

(a)

in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both;

(b)

in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.

(5)

This section does not have effect in relation to an election in Scotland or Wales under the local government Act.”