Election Offences

• a fine of up to $10,000;
• imprisonment for up to two years;
• prohibition from holding elected office in a local government for up to six years; and
• prohibition from voting in a local government election for up to six years.

This scale of offences includes:

• Vote Buying
  It is an offence to offer inducements to vote. Inducements can include, but are not limited to:
  • offers of money
  • gifts
  • valuable considerations
  • refreshments
  • entertainment
  • employment
  • or any other benefits
  that rewards or persuades individuals to alter their voting behaviour. It is also an offence to accept the inducement for voting.
• Intimidation
  It is an offence to intimidate an elector, by action or threat, to compel the person to vote or to refrain from voting. It is also an offence to punish a person for voting or refraining from voting generally, or for voting in support of a particular candidate.

• a fine of up to $5,000;
• imprisonment for up to one year;
• prohibition from holding elected office in a local government for up to six years; and
• prohibition from voting in a local government election for up to six years.

• Advertising on general voting day
  It is an offence to conduct election advertising through newspapers, magazines, radio or television on general voting day.
• Campaigning near a voting place
  It is an offence to engage in campaigning and other activities that show support for one candidate over another within 100 metres of any building where voting is taking place.
   
  During both advance voting opportunities and general voting hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), election advertising by means of a public address system or a loudspeaker is not permitted within hearing distance of the voting place.

 
Candidates, and their supporters, must not canvas, solicit votes or advertise within 100 metres of where general or advance voting is taking place. Advertising include:
• signs, posters, or flyers;
• bumper stickers on vehicles parked outside the voting place; or,
• badges worn by supporters.
• Providing or distributing false information
  It is an offence to falsely withdraw a candidate from an election, distribute a false statement that a candidate has withdrawn, falsely withdraw the endorsement of an elector organization, consent to nomination when ineligible, provide false information, or make false statements or declarations.
• Contravening voting provisions
  It is an offence to vote when not entitled to, vote more than once in an election, obtain a ballot in the name of another person, interfere with the secrecy of the ballot, tamper with ballots or ballot boxes, or print, reproduce, give out, or destroy ballots without authorization.
• Contravening campaign finance provisions
  It is an offence to fail to open and use a campaign account, make or accept prohibited contributions or incur unauthorized or unrecorded expenses, fail to transfer surplus funds, or fail to file campaign financing disclosure statements.

Election offences are dealt with by the BC Supreme Court. Typically, such offences are prosecuted after the police make a recommendation to Crown counsel.