S3-004: National Electoral Anti-Corruption Act of 1179

**An Act to put in practise anti-corruption acts regarding elections. (National Electoral Anti-Corruption Act)**
*Introduced by Quincy Altereza (The Cavaliers)*

His Majesty, by and with the advice of the Senate and the Privy Council, enacts as follows:

## **SECTION 1:** SECRET BALLOT

### **Paragraph A:**

All voters shall be entitled to vote by secret ballot. The Central Electoral Board (CEB) shall be responsible for providing these ballots.

### **Paragraph B:**

The ballot shall consist of a slit of paper with candidate names. These ballots must be entered into a sealed form of container, not to be opened by anyone other than registered counters.

## **SECTION 2:** VOTE COUNTS

### **Paragraph A:**

Counting of votes shall be done in local facilities.

### **Paragraph B:**

Official 'counters' will have to register with the Interior Ministry and receive a license. These 'counters' will be accountable to Local Authorities and must arrange a location for vote counts and times.

### **Paragraph C:**

Misuse of a 'vote count practitioner license' is a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of [minimum] 6 months and [maximum] 3 years.

## **SECTION 3:** VOTING DAY

### **Paragraph B:**

The specific date for voting shall be set by the CEB.

### **Paragraph C:**

This voting date shall be considered a National Holiday. This allows for all citizens, of all sectors, to have the day off work. For government workers (specific POLICE, FIRE, CIVIL SERVANTS) this is subject to working hours - government workers may be required to work parts of the day, but may work no longer than 6 hours.

## **SECTION 4:** OFFENCE

### **Paragraph A:**

The Act shall establish the 'Electoral Practises Code', establishing criminal offences:

#### Title I: Voter Intimidation

It shall be an offence to intimidate a citizen to favouring a certain candidate, party or cause. This is punishable by a fine of 10,000 Lev or a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

#### Title II: Voter Bribery

It shall be an offence to bribe, (by money, property or other means) a citizen to favouring a certain candidate, party or cause. This is punishable by prison sentence of up to 10 years.

#### Title III: Electoral Fraud

It shall be an offence to rig, interfere or alter the election (through means of changing the outcome). This is punishable by a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

#### Title IV: Electoral Integrity

It shall be an offence to use fake identification when voting, or vote in someone elses name, or vote more than once in the same election. This is punishable by a fine of 50,000 Lev or a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

#### Title V: Electoral Corruption

It shall be an offence to use corrupt methods during the election cycle to unduly influence the outcome. This is punishable by a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

## **SECTION 5:** FUNDING

### **Paragraph A:**

The CEB must be funded by the central government. A budget for the CEB of (at least) 1 million Lev must be funded in its own right, not part of other funding.

### **Paragraph B:**

As of the 1176 Budget, 1 million of the 2.22 million surplus will be allocated to fund the CEB. This paragraph shall be repealed upon the passing of a new budget.

## **SECTION 6:** REGISTRATION

### **Paragraph A:**

All registered voters must be 18 years of old on election day.

### **Paragraph B:**

Voting registration is maintained by the central government. However citizens must register themselves with local authorities, who have a responsibility to inform the Interior Ministry.