Page:A History of the Australian Ballot System in the United States.djvu/103

90 ''What shall be deemed acts of bribery and corruption. 7 & 8 Geo. IV, Cap. 37, s. 2''

50. The following acts shall be deemed and taken to be acts of bribery and corruption on the part of any candidate, whether committed by such candidate or by any agent authorized to act for him, that is to say–the giving of money or any other article whatsoever, cockades included, to any elector, with a view to influence his vote, or the holding out to him any promise or expectation of profit, advancement, or enrichment in any shape, in order to influence his vote, or making use of any threat to any elector, or otherwise intimidating him in any manner with a view to influence his vote; the treating of any elector, or the supplying him with meat, drink, lodging, or horse or carriage hire, or conveyance by steam or otherwise, whilst at such election, or whilst engaged in coming to or going from such election; the payment to any elector of any sum of money for acting or joining in any procession during such election, or before or after the same; the keeping open, or allowing to be kept open, any public-house, shop, booth, or tent, or place of entertainment, whether liquor or refreshment of any kind be distributed at such place of entertainment or not; the giving of any dinner, supper, breakfast, or other entertainment, at any place whatsoever, by a candidate to any number of electors, with a view of influencing their votes.

Any of the above acts to disqualify

51. The commission of any one of the above-mentioned acts shall, on proof thereof, by the decision of the above-mentioned Court, be held to render void the election of the person committing such act, and to disqualify him from sitting and voting in the said Parliament, during the whole period that may intervene between the commission of the same and the time of the next periodical or general election.

Principals bound by acts of their agents

52. The acts of all authorized agents, of a candidate or member shall, in matters connected with elections, be held to be the acts of their principal, provided that it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the above-mentioned Courts, that such acts were committed with his knowledge or consent.

Acts of bribery and corruption by persons not being the authorized agents

53. If any of the above-mentioned acts, hereby declared to be acts of bribery and corruption, shall be committed by any person not the authorized agent of any candidate or member, the person so committing, or having committed them, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be indicted for such acts as for a misdemeanor in the Supreme Court, and punished with fine not exceeding Two Hundred Pounds, or imprisonment not exceeding six calendar months, at the suit or on the plaint of Her Majesty’s Attorney or Advocate-General, or of any registered elector of the district wherein such act of bribery or corruption shall be alleged to have been committed.

Penalty on persons receiving or offering reward for voting or withholding vote

54. If any person who shall have, or claim to have, any right to vote in any election of a Member of the Legislative Council or House of Assembly for any