European Parliament Elections Act 1997

Obstruction of or interference with electors.

118. (1) A person shall not interfere with or obstruct or impede an elector going to or coming from or in the vicinity of or in a polling station.

(2) During the period commencing 30 minutes before the time appointed for the opening of a poll at a European election, including a poll which has been adjourned under rule 68, and ending 30 minutes after the close of the said poll, a person shall not, in or in the curtilage of a polling station or in any place within F120[50 metres] of such station, for the purpose of promoting the interest of a political party or furthering the candidature of a candidate or candidates or soliciting votes for a candidate or candidates or for any contrary purpose, do any or all of the following things:

(a) loiter or congregate with other persons;

(b) attempt to induce, by any means whatsoever, an elector to vote for a candidate or candidates or vote in a particular way or refrain from voting;

(c) display or distribute any notice, sign or poster (other than a notice, sign or poster displayed by the returning officer or local returning officer) or card, circular or other document relating to the election; or

(d) use or cause to be used any loud-speaker or other public address mechanism to broadcast matter relating to the election.

(3) For the purpose of this rule, a polling station shall be deemed to include all parts of the building and any land within the curtilage of the building in which the polling station is situate and the distance referred to in paragraph (2) shall be measured from any entrance to the polling station or to the curtilage thereof.

(4) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.

Annotations

Amendments:

F120

Substituted (1.11.2001) by Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 (38/2001), s. 51(u), S.I. No. 497 of 2001.