It's a serious offence to mess around with the democratic process - especially when it comes to elections.
In fact, breaching the election rules can carry a fine of up to $10,000 and net the offender a couple of years behind bars, not to mention a prohibition from holding elected office for six years, or loss of voting privileges for a similar period.
Some of the offences outlined in the Local Government Act are quite straightforward. For instance, you're not allowed to buy or pay for votes - and that includes trading votes for gifts, entertainment, refreshments (no beer before ballot!), or job offers.
And it's just as illegal to accept an election-related bribe (or indeed, any other kind of bribe) as it is to offer one.
It's probably also no surprise that the law strictly forbids threatening potential "supporters" in any way.
Lesser offences (up to $5,000 in fines and just one year in jail) include advertising at inappropriate times, or campaigning too close to a ballot box.
With all the provincially decreed rules to ensure the integrity of the electoral process for the upcoming civic election, it is remarkable that there is no restriction on using municipal funding or resources to aid an incumbent in pursuing re-election, unless rules are set up through municipal bylaws.
We are not offering this information as a suggestion to those who haven't thought of using (or abusing!) the system that way. But voters may want to keep a weather eye out for such practices - for they could occur.
And if they do occur, it might be legal - but in this case, it's up to individual voters, rather than the law, to keep them honest.
