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Uimhir 38.
ACHT CHUN DROCH-BHEARTA TOGHACHÁIN DO CHOSC, 1923.
CUID I.
Cleachtanna Cuirpthe.
Miniú ar chleacht cuirpthe.
1.—(1) Cialluíonn an focal “cleachtanna cuirpthe,” mar a húsáidtear san Acht so é, aon cheann de sna cíontaí adeirtar san alt so a bheith ina chleacht chuirpthe, agus éinne a dhéanfidh aon cheann de sna ciontaí sin beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht cuirpthe.
(2) Is cleachtanna cuirpthe na ciontaí seo a leanas, mar a mínítear iad níos iomláine sna hailt seo a leanas den Chuid seo den Acht so, sé sin le rá:—
(a) breabaireacht,
(b) pearsanáil,
(c) traeteáil,
(d) imirt chomhachta mhí-chuíosach.
(3) Is cleachtanna cuirpthe leis na ciontaí seo a leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) cabhrú, sprioca no comhairliú chun cionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh, no an cionta san do chur á dhéanamh;
(b) ráiteas d'fhoillsiú roimh Dháil-toghachán no Seanadtoghachán, no le n-a linn, i dtaobh iarrthóir do tharrac siar sa toghachán agus a fhios ag an té d'fhoillsigh é gur ráiteas bréagach é.
Miniú ar bhreabaireacht.
2.—Tuigfar na daoine seo a leanas a bheith ciontach i mbreabaireacht agus féadfar pionós do chur ortha dá réir sin:—
(1) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, aon airgead no comaoine luachmhar no aon oifig, ionad no fostaíocht do thabhairt no do thabhairt ar iasacht, no a dhéanfidh marga chun an céanna do thabhairt no do thabhairt ar iasacht, no a ofrálfidh no a gheallfidh é, no a gheallfidh é d'fháil no tabhairt fé n-a fháil d'aon vótálaí no i gcóir aon vótálaí, no d'aon duine no i gcóir aon duine thar ceann aon vótálaí no d'aon duine eile no i gcóir aon duine eile, chun aon vótálaí do thabhairt chun vótáil, no chun vótáil ar aon tslí áirithe no chun staona o vótáil, no a dhéanfidh ar shlí chuirpthe aon ghníomh den tsórt san roimh-ráite mar gheall ar gur vótáil an vótálaí sin no gur votáil sé ar aon tslí áirithe no gur staon sé o vótáil in aon toghachán;
(2) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, díreach no nea-díreach, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, aon bhronna, tabhairtar-iasacht, ofráil, geallúint, fáil no marga den tsórt san roimhráite d'aon duine no i gcóir éinne d'fhonn an duine sin do thabhairt, chun a chur in áirithe no chun tabhairt fé n-a chur in áirithe go ndéanfar éinne áirithe do thogha chun fónamh san Oireachtas, no chun vóta aon vótálaí d'fháil no tabhairt fé n-a fháil in aon toghachán;
(3) Tar éis no de bharr aon bhronna, tabhairt-ar-iasacht, ofrála, geallúna, fála, no margaidh den tsórt san gach éinne a dhéanfidh togha éinne áirithe chun fónamh san Oireachtas do chur in áirithe no vóta aon vótálaí d'fháil in aon toghachán no a thógfidh air féin no a gheallfidh an céanna do dhéanamh no a thabharfidh fé;
(4) Gach éinne a roimh-íocfidh no a íocfidh, no a chuirfidh fé ndeár go n-íocfar, aon airgead le héinne eile no chun úsáid éinne eile d'fhonn go gcaithfí an t-airgead san no aon chuid de ar bhreabaireacht in aon toghachán, no a íocfidh no a chuirfidh fé ndeár go n-íocfar aon airgead le héinne in íoc no in aisíoc aon airgid a caitheadh i bpáirt no go hiomlán ar bhreabaireacht in aon toghachán agus a fhios aige gur chuige sin an t-airgead san;
(5) Gach vótálaí a dhéanfidh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, roimh aon toghachán no le n-a linn, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, aon airgead, bronntanas, iasacht, no comaoine luachmhar, no aon oifig, ionad no fostaíocht, do ghlaca dho féin no d'éinne eile, no marga no connra do chríochnú chuige sin, mar gheall ar vótáil no marga do dhéanamh chun vótáil ar shlí áirithe no mar gheall ar staona o vótáil no marga do dhéanamh chun staona o vótáil, no o vótáil ar shlí áirithe, in aon tóghachán;
(6) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, tar éis aon toghacháin, díreach no nea-dhíreach, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, aon airgead no comaoine luachmhar do ghlaca mar gheall ar éinne do bheith tar éis vótáil no staona o vótáil, no éinne eile do thabhairt chun vótáil no chun staona o vótáil, in aon toghachán;
(7) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, ar shlí chuirpthe, éinne do mhealla no do thabhairt chun tarrac siar o bheith ina iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán no i Seanad-toghachán, mar mhalairt ar aon bhronntanas, iasacht, íocaíocht, oifig, ionad no fostaíocht no mar mhalairt ar aon bhronntanas, iasacht, íocaíocht, oifig, ionad no fostaíocht do gheallúint;
(8) Gach éinne a tharraiceoidh siar o bheith ina iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán no i Seanad-toghachán de dheascaibh é do mhealla no do thabhairt chuige sin mar adubhradh:
Ach ní bhainfidh an t-alt so ná ní léireófar é mar rud a bhaineann le haon airgead a híocfar no a socrófar a íoc in íoc no ar cuntas aon chostaisí dlí fé n-a raghfar bona fide in aon toghachán no mar gheall ar aon toghachán.
Míniú ar phearsanáil.
3.—Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, i dtoghachán páipeur ballóide d'iarraidh in ainm duine éigin eile, pe'ca ainm duine bheo no ainm duine mhairbh no ainm duine bhréige an ainm sin, no a dhéanfidh, tar éis vótáil aon uair amháin i dtoghachán, páipeur ballóide d'iarraidh ina ainm féin sa toghachán chéanna, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta na pearsanála.
Míniú ar thraeteáil.
4.—(1) Einne a dhéanfidh, ar shlí chuirpthe, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile, roimh thoghachán no le n-a linn no ina dhiaidh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, aon bhia, deoch, féasta no lón do thabhairt no do sholáthar, no a íocann go hiomlán no go leathrannach as na nithe sin do thabhairt no do sholáthar, d'éinne no i gcóir éinne, chun an duine sin no éinne eile do mhealla chun a vóta do chaitheamh no staona ó n-a vóta do chaitheamh sa toghachán, no mar gheall ar an duine sin no éinne eile do bheith tar éis vótáil no staona o vótáil, no mar gheall ar é do bheith chun vótáil no staona o vótáil sa toghachán san, beidh sé ciontach i dtraeteáil.
(2) Gach toghthóir a ghlacfidh no a thógfidh, ar shlí chuirpthe, aon bhia, deoch, féasta no lón den tsórt a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt roimhe seo, beidh seisean ciontach i dtraeteáil leis.
Míniú ar imirt chomhachta mhíchuíosach.
5.—Gach éinne a dhéanfidh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, uaidh féin no tré éinne eile thar a cheann, aon fhórsa, éigean, no cosc d'imirt no do bhagairt ar dhuine ar bith no a dhéanfidh uaidh féin no tré éinne eile, aon díobháil, damáiste, dochar no díth, saolta no spirideálta, d'imirt no do bhagairt ar dhuine ar bith, d'fhonn an duine sin do thabhairt no d'éigniú chun vótáil no chun staona o vótáil in aon toghachán no chun tarrac siar o bheith ina iarrthóir in aon toghachán, no mar gheall ar an duine sin do bheith tar éis vótáil no tar éis staona o vótáil no tar éis bheith no tarrac siar o bheith ina iarrthóir in aon toghachán, no a dhéanfidh, le fuadach, le héigean, no le haon chleas no seift chalaoiseach aon toghthóir do chosc no do thoirmeasc ar feidhm do bhaint as an reacht-shaoirse gan aon chosc, no aon toghthóir d'éigniú no do mhealla no do thabhairt chun a vóta do thabhairt no staona ó n-a vóta do thabhairt in aon toghachán, no a dhéanfidh, le fuadach, le héigean no le haon chleas no seift chalaoiseach, aon duine do chosc no do thoirmeasc ar bheith ina iarrthóir i dtoghachán, no aon duine d'éigniú, do mhealla no do thabhairt chun tarrac siar o bheith ina iarrthóir i dtoghachán, beidh sé ciontach i gcomhacht d'imirt go mí-chuíosach.
Pionóisí mar gheall ar chleachtanna cuirpthe.
6.—(1) Einne a dhéanfidh cleacht cuirpthe nách pearsanáil, ná cabhrú ná sprioca ná comhairliú chun cionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh, ná an cionta san do chur á dhéanamh, féadfar, ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair, príosúntacht do thabhairt do, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh téarma nách sia ná bliain.
(2) Einne a dhéanfidh cionta na pearsanála no cabhrú no sprioca no comhairliú chun cionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh no an cionta san do chur á dhéanamh—
(a) an chéad uair a dhéanfa sé é, féadfar, ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair, príosúntacht do thabhairt do, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh téarma nách giorra ná dhá mhí agus nách sia ná dhá mhí dhéag, agus fíneáil nách mó ná céad púnt do chur air;
(b) an dara huair no aon uair ina dhiaidh sin a dhéanfa sé é, féadfar, ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair, príosúntacht do thabhairt do, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh téarma nách giorra ná sé mhí agus nách sia ná dhá mhí dhéag, agus fíneáil nách mó ná céad púnt do chur air, no, ar a fháil ciontach tar éis é do dhíotáil, príosúntacht do thabhairt do, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh téarma nách giorra ná sé mhí agus nách sia ná dhá mhí dhéag, no é do chur chun piantseirbhíse ar feadh téarma trí mblian, agus, i gceachtar den dá chás san, fíneáil nách mó ná dhá chéad púnt do chur air.
(3) Einne a gheobhfar ciontach in aon chleacht cuirpthe, (i dteanta na bpíonóisí a luaidhtear sna fo-ailt roimhe seo) beidh sé, ar feadh tréimhse seacht mblian ón dáta ar a bhfuighfar ciontach é, gan bheith ábalta ar—
(a) bheith cláruithe mar Dháil-toghthóir, mar Sheanadtoghthóir ná mar thoghthóir Rialtais Áitiúla; ná
(b) vótáil i nDáil-toghachán, i Seanad-toghachán ná i dtoghachán Rialtais Áitiúla ná i Referendum; ná
(c) vótáil i dtoghachán i gcóir aon oifige puiblí; ná
(d) aon oifig phuiblí ná oifig bhreithiúntais do shealbhú; agus má bhíonn aon oifig phuiblí no oifig bhreithiúntais ar seilbh ag éinne den tsórt san ar an dáta ar a bhfuighfar ciontach é, siúd an oifig sin folamh láithreach.
(4) Einne a gheobhfar ciontach in aon chleacht cuirpthe (i dteanta na bpionóisí agus na mí-chumais a luaidhtear sna fo-ailt roimhe seo) beidh sé, ar feadh tréimhse seacht mblian ón dáta ar a bhfuighfar ciontach é, gan bheith ábalta ar bheith ina bhall de Dháil Éireann ná de Sheanad Éireann ná d'aon Údarás Áitiúil ná ní féadfar é do thogha chun an chéanna agus má bhíonn sé, ar an dáta ar a bhfuighfar ciontach é, ina bhall de Dháil Éireann no de Sheanad Éireann no d'aon údarás áitiúil no má bhíonn sé tar éis bheith tofa chun an chéanna scuirfe sé, ón dáta san, de bheith ina bhall den chéanna agus ón dáta san beidh a thogha chun an chéanna gan brí.
(5) San alt so cialluíonn an focal “oifig phuiblí” duine do bheith ina bhall d'aon údarás áitiúil, agus cialluíonn an focal “oifig bhreithiúntais” oifig gach breithimh gurb é Ionadaí na Coróinneach a chaithfidh é do cheapa, ar chomhairle na hArd-Chomhairle, do réir Airtiogal 68 de Bhunreacht Shaorstáit Éireann.
Iarrthóir a bheidh ciontach i gcleachtanna cuirpthe do bheith fé mhícháilíocht.
7.—(1) Aon uair a thuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin gur cruthuíodh gur dineadh cleacht cuirpthe i dtaobh aon toghacháin i gcóir aon Tighe den Oireachtas ag no i bhfios d'aon iarrthóir sa toghachán san no le n-a thoil ní féadfar an t-iarrthóir sin do thogha chun an Oireachtais go bráth ná ní fhéadfa sé bheith ina bhall den Oireachtas go bráth, agus má toghadh é chun aon Tighe den Oireachtas beidh a thogha gan brí agus beidh sé leis fé sna mí-chumais chéanna fé n-a mbeadh sé dá bhfuighfí ciontach i gcleacht cuirpthe é ar dháta na tuairisce.
(2) Aon uair a thuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin gur cruthuíodh go raibh aon ghníomhaire d'iarrthóir, i dtoghachán chun aon Tighe den Oireachtas, tar éis cleacht cuirpthe do dhéanamh i dtaobh an tóghacháin sin ní féadfar an t-iarrthóir sin do thogha chun an Oireachtais, ná ní fhéadfa sé bheith ina bhall den Oireachtas, go ceann tréimhse seacht mblian o dháta na tuairisce sin agus má toghadh chun aon Tighe den Oireachtas é beidh a thogha gan brí.
CUID II.
Cleachtanna Nea-dhleathacha.
Fostú an iomad daoine no íocaíocht ró-mhór do bheith ina chleacht neadhleathach.
8.—(1) Ach amháin mar a ceadófar do réir an Achta so, ní fostófar éinne ag iarrthóir i dtoghachán, ná tré n-a ghníomhaire, in aon ghnó a bhaineas le stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin, thar an uimhir mhaximum de dhaoine a húdaruítear leis an Acht so a fhostú sa ghnó san.
(2) Ach amháin mar a ceadófar do réir an Achta so, ní híocfar aon tsuim ag iarrthóir i dtoghachán, ná tré n-a ghníomhaire, chun aon chríche a bhaineann le stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin, thar an méid maximum a húdaruítear leis an Acht so a íoc chun na críche sin.
(3) Aon iarrthóir no gníomhaire toghacháin a ghníomhóidh, go feasach do féin, contrárdha don alt so, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
Ní dleathach do dhaoine coiscthe votáil.
9.—(1) Einne a vótálfidh no a mheallfidh éinne chun vótáil i dtoghachán no a chuirfidh ina luighe air é do dhéanamh agus a fhios aige go bhfuil coiscthe air no ar an duine sin, pe'ca leis an Acht so é no le haon Acht eile, vótáil sa toghachán san, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(2) Ach ní bheidh iarrthóir freagharthach ná ní cuirfar a thogha ar nea-mbrí mar gheall ar aon chleacht nea-dhleathach fén Acht so a dhéanfidh a ghníomhaire marab é a ghníomhaire toghacháin an gníomhaire sin.
Cleacht neadhleathach isea duine do vótáil gan teideal no duine do vótáil níos mó ná uair amháin.
10.—(1) Gach éinne a vótálfidh i dtoghachán agus gan ar a chumas vótáil sa toghachán san, mar a faisnítear leis an Acht so no fé, no le haon Acht eile no fé, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(2) Gach éinne a vótálfidh níos mó ná aon uair amháin i dtoghachán (pe'ca i ndáilcheanntar amháin é no i roinnt dáilcheanntar) beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach in ainneoin a ainm do bheith ar chlár na dtoghthóirí.
(3) An Chúirt gur ina láthair a gheobhfar duine ciontach fén alt so i dtaobh vótáil níos mó ná aon uair amháin i dtoghachán, féadfa sí, más deimhin léi nár cuireadh chun an duine sin an dara ceist a horduítear le fo-alt (1) d'alt 29 den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), ar an dara hócáid no ar aon ócáid ina dhiaidh sin ar ar vótáil sé amhlaidh, féadfa sí aon mhí-chumas, a cuirfí ar an duine sin leis an Acht so mar gheall ar é d'fháil ciontach, do luíodú no do chur ar neamh-ní ar fad más dó léi gur ceart san do dhéanamh mar gheall ar na nithe speisialta a bhaineann leis an gcás.
E do bheith ina chleacht nea-dhleathach ráitisí bréagacha áirithe do dhéanamh i dtaobh iarrthóra.
11.—(1) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh no a fhoillseoidh, roimh aon toghachán no le n-a linn, d'fhonn go mbainfadh sé le togha aon iarrthóra sa toghachán san, aon ráiteas bréagach i dtaobh cáil no iompar an iarrthóra san, agus stiúrthóirí aon chóluchta no cumainn chorparálta a dhéanfidh no a fhoillseoidh aon ráiteas bréagach den tsórt san roimhráite roimh aon toghachán, no le n-a linn, agus chun na críche roimhráite, beid ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(2) Ní bheidh éinne ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach fén alt so má thaisbeánann sé go raibh cúis réasúnta aige chun a chreidiúint gur bhfíor, agus gur chreid sé gur bhfíor, an ráiteas a dhin no d'fhoillsigh sé.
(3) Ní bheidh iarrthóir freagarthach ná ní cuirfar a thogha ar nea-mbrí mar gheall ar aon chleacht nea-dhleathach fén alt so a dhin a ghníomhaire, ach nách é a ghníomhaire tóghacháin é, mara dtaisbeántar gur údaruigh no gur aontuigh an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire toghacháin an gníomhaire eile sin do dhéanamh an chleachta nea-dhleathaigh sin, no gur íoc an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire toghacháin as an ráiteas bréagach do chur timpeall, sé sin, an ráiteas gurb é an cleacht nea-dhleathach é, no mara dtuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin gur cruithuíodh gur cuireadh in áirithe go dtoghfí an t-iarrthóir sin de bharr, no gur mhór an chabhair chun é do thogha, an ráiteas bréagach san do dhéanamh no d'fhoillsiú.
(4) Einne 'na gcuirfar cionta ina leith fén alt so, agus fear no bean an duine sin, fé mar a bheidh, féadfid fianaise do thabhairt mar fhreagra ar an gcur-i-leith sin.
(5) Einne a dhéanfidh no a fhoillseoidh aon ráiteas bréagach den tsórt a luaidhtear san alt so féadfar é do chosc, le cosc, ar an ráiteas bréagach san no ar aon ráiteas bréagach den tsamhail chéanna do dhéanamh arís i dtaobh an iarrthóra san, agus chun cosc interim do dheona is leor cruthúnas prima facie ar bhreagaí an ráitis.
Iompar mí-rialta i dtionól do bheith ina chleacht nea-dhleathach.
12.—(1) Gach éinne a ghníomhóidh ar chuma mhírialta, i dtionól le n-a mbaineann an t-alt so, chun an gnó ar ar gairmeadh an tionól do chimeád gan déanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(2) Gach éinne a ghríosfidh daoine eile chun rud atá ina chionta fén alt so do dhéanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(3) Baineann an t-alt so le gach tionól polaiticeach puiblí dleathach a comórfar i ndáilcheanntar—
(a) idir an dáta ar a dtabharfar amach rit chun ball no baill de Dháil Éireann do thogha don dáilcheanntar san agus an lá tar éis an lá ar a gcomórfar an toghachán san; no
(b) idir dháta furógra a cheapfidh an lá chun Scanad-toghachán do chomóra agus an lá tar éis an lá ar a gcomórfar an toghachán san; no
(c) idir dháta furógra a cheapfidh an lá chun Referendum do thógaint agus an lá tar éis an lá ar a dtógfar an Referendum san.
Ainm agus seola an chlódóra do bheith ar gach placárd, etc.
13.—Beidh ar an aghaidh ar gach bille, placárd no postaeir a bhaineann le toghachán ainm agus seola a chlódóra agus a fhoillseora; agus éinne a chlóbhuailfidh, a fhoillseoidh no a phostálfidh no a chuirfidh fé ndeár go gclóbhuailfar, go bhfoillseofar no go bpostálfar aon bhille, placárd, no postaeir den tsórt san roimhráite agus gan ainm agus seola an chlódóra agus an fhoillseora ar an aghaidh air, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach más iarrthóir é no gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir agus marab iarrthóir é ná gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir féadfar fíneáil nách mó ná céad púnt do chur air ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair.
Costaisí fé n-a raghaidh daoine gan údarás.
14.—(1) Ní dhéanfidh éinne seachas gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir dul fé chostaisí mar gheall ar thionóil phuiblí do chomóra ná mar gheall ar fhógraí, ciorcaláin no foillseacháin do chur amach chun togha aon iarrthóra i dtoghachán do chur ar aghaidh no do chur in áirithe mara mbeidh údarás i scríbhinn aige ón ngníomhaire toghacháin sin chun é do dhéanamh.
(2) Gach éinne a ghníomhóidh contrárdha don alt so beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(3) Aon chostas fé n-a raghfar mar gheall ar aon ghnó den tsórt san roimhráite agus a húdaruíodh ag gníomhaire toghacháin an iarrthóra tabharfar cuntas air go cuibhe mar chuid de chostaisí toghacháin an iarrthóra.
An pionós a ghabhann le ciontacht i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
15.—Gach éinne a bheidh ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach, pe'ca fé aon cheann de sna hailt sin roimhe seo é no fé aon cheann de sna forálacha atá ina dhiaidh seo san Acht so, féadfar fíneáil nách mó ná céad púnt do chur air ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair, agus ní féadfar é do chlárú mar Dháil-toghthóir, mar Sheanad-toghthóir ná mar toghthóir Rialtais Áitiúla ná ní fhéadfa sé vótáil in aon Dáil-toghachán, Seanad-toghachán ná toghachán Rialtais Áitiúla ná i Referendum go ceann tréimhse cúig mblian ón dáta ar a bhfuighfar ciontach é.
Beidh fé mhícháilíocht aon iarrthóir a bheidh ciontach i gcleacht neadhleathach.
16.—(1) Aon uair a thuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin gur cruthuíodh gur dineadh cleacht nea-dhleathach i dtaobh toghacháin i gcóir aon Tighe den Oireachtas ag no i bhfios d'aon iarrthóir sa toghachán san no le n-a thoil, ní féadfar an t-iarrthóir sin do thogha chun an Oireachtais ná ní fhéadfa sé bheith ina bhall den Oireachtas go ceann tréimhse seacht mblian o dháta na tuairisce agus má toghadh é chun aon Tighe den Oireachtas beidh a thogha gan brí agus beidh sé, leis, fé sna mí-chumais chéanna fé n-a mbeadh sé dá bhfuighfí ciontach i gcleacht neadhleathach é ar dháta na tuairisce.
(2) Aon uair a thuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin gur cruthuíodh go raibh aon ghníomhaire d'iarrthóir, i dtoghachán chun aon Tighe den Oireachtas, tar éis cleacht nea-dhleathach do dhéanamh i dtaobh an toghacháin sin ní féadfar an t-iarrthóir sin do thogha chun Dáil Éireann, ná ní fhéadfa sé bheith ina bhall de Dháil Éireann, an fhaid a leanfidh an tOireachtas san agus ní féadfar é do thogha chun Seanaid Éireann, ná ní fhéadfa sé bheith ina bhall de Sheanad Éireann, roimh na céad-thoghacháin trí-bhliantúla eile chun an tSeanaid agus má toghadh é beidh a thogha gan brí.
Beidh caithteachas áirithe ina íocaíocht neadhleathach.
17.—Gach éinne a sholáthroidh airgead go feasach i gcóir aon íocaíochta atá contrárdha d'fhorálacha an Achta so, no i gcóir aon chostaisí fé n-ar chuathas sa bhreis ar aon mhéid maximum a ceaduítear leis an Acht so, no chun é do chur in ionad aon airgid a caitheadh mar íocaíocht no costaisí den tsórt san, beidh sé ciontach in íocaíocht nea-dhleathach mara gceaduítear do réir an Achta so an íocaíocht san do bheith ina heisceacht.
Beidh fostú áirithe neadhleathach.
18.—(1) Chun togha iarrthóra do chur ar aghaidh no do chur in áirithe in aon toghachán, ní déanfar éinne do thógaint in aimsir ná d'fhostú ar íocaíocht ná ar gheallúint íocaíochta chun aon chríche ná in aon ghnó de shaghas ar bith, ach amháin chun aon chrícheanna no gnóthaí a luaidhtear sa chéad chuid no sa dara cuid den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, no chó fada agus údaruítear íocaíocht leis an gcéad chuid no leis an dara cuid den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so.
(2) Ach amháin mar a ceaduítear do réir an Achta so, má dintar éinne do thógaint in aimsir no d'fhostú contrárdha don alt so, pe'ca roimh thoghachán é no le n-a linn no ina dhiaidh, beidh an té a dhéanfidh é do thógaint in aimsir no d'fhostú ciontach i bhfostú nea-dhleathach, agus an té a tógadh in aimsir no a fostuíodh amhlaidh beidh sé sin leis ciontach i bhfostú nea-dhleathach má b'eol do gur contrárdha don dlí a tógadh in aimsir no a fostuíodh é.
Ní husáidfear áitribh áirithe mar sheomra coiste.
19.—(1) Ní húsáidfar aon áitreabh le n-a mbaineann an t-alt so ná aon chuid den áitreabh san mar sheomra coiste chun togha iarrthóra do chur ar aghaidh no do chur in áirithe in aon toghachán.
(2) Gach éinne a thógfidh ar cíos no a úsáidfidh aon áitreabh le n-a mbaineann an t-alt so no aon chuid d'aon áitreabh den tsórt san mar sheomra coiste den tsórt san roimhráite, beidh sé ciontach i gcíosú nea-dhleathach agus an té a chuirfidh ar cíos an t-áitreabh san no cuid de beidh sé ciontach i gcíosú neadhleathach má b'eol do go rabhthas chun an céanna d'úsáid mar sheomra coiste den tsórt san.
(3) Baineann an t-alt so leis na háithribh seo a leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) aon áitreabh ina bhfuil sé údaruithe le ceadúnas aon deocha meisciúla do dhíol ina mórchoda no ina mionchoda (pe'ca ceadúnas chun ól san áitreabh an ceadúnas san no ceadúnas chun ól lasmuich den áitreabh); no
(b) aon áitreabh ina ndíoltar no ina soláthruítear aon deocha meisciúla do bhaill de chlub, no de chumann nách buan-chlub polaitíochta; no
(c) aon áitreabh ina ndintar aon tsaghas cothú, pe'ca bia no deoch é, do dhíol de ghnáth chun é do chaitheamh san áitreabh; no
(d) áitreabh aon bhun-scoile puiblí a gheibheann deontas páirliminteach bliantúil, no aon chuid d'aon áitreabh den tsórt san.
(4) Ní bhaineann an t-alt so le haon chuid d'aon áitreabh den tsórt san roimhráite a cuirtar ar cíos de ghnáth mar sheomraí gnótha no mar oifigí no chun tionóil phuiblí do chomóra no eadarascáin do dhéanamh ionta, má tá bealach fé leith isteach sa chuid sin agus gan aon bhealach díreach idir é agus aon chuid den áitreabh ina ndíoltar no ina soláthruítear aon deocha meisciúla no cothú mar adubhradh.
Píonós mar gheall ar íoc, fostú, no cíosú neadhleathach.
20.—(1) Ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair féadfar fineáil nách mó ná céad púnt do chur ar dhuine a bheidh ciontach i gcionta íoc, fostú, no cíosú do dhéanamh go nea-dhleathach.
(2) Aon iarrthóir no gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir a bheidh ciontach go pearsanta i gcionta íoc, fostú, no cíosú do dhéanamh go nea-dhleathach, beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht neadhleathach.
Cosaint d'éilitheoirí fiacha.
21.—Na forálacha san den Acht so a choisceann íocaíochtaí agus connartha íocaíochta áirithe, agus íoc aon tsuime, agus dul fé aon chostas thar maximum áirithe, ní dhéanfid difir do cheart aon éilitheora fiacha a bhí, nuair a dineadh an connra no a chuathas fén gcostas, in ainbhfios ar an gcéanna do bheith contrárdha don Acht so.
CUID III.
Chun Pearsanail do Chosc.
Féadfidh iarrthóir Dála gníomhairí pearsanála do cheapa.
22.—(1) Féadfidh gach iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán in aon dáilcheanntar no gníomhaire an iarrthóra san éinne amháin do cheapa (dá ngairmtear gníomhaire pearsanála san Acht so) chun bheith i láthair, thar ceann an iarrthóra san, i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta i ngach áit vótaíochta sa dáilcheanntar chun cabhrú chun daoine do bhrath a bheidh ag déanamh cionta na pearsanála no ad iarraidh é do dhéanamh.
(2) Dhá uair déag a chluig ar a luíod roimh thosach na vótaíochta soláthróidh gach iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire don cheann comhrimh, i scríbhinn, ainmneacha na ngníomhairí pearsanála go léir a bheidh ceaptha fén alt so aige no thar a cheann maraon le hainm an stáisiúin vótaíochta a leagadh amach do gach gníomhaire pearsanála fé leith.
(3) Gach gníomhaire pearsanála a ceapfar go cuibhe fén alt so agus 'na dtabharfar fógra go cuibhe mar adubhradh i dtaobh a cheapa beidh teideal aige chun bheith sa stáisiún vótaíochta a leagadh amach do ar feadh aimsir iomlán na vótaíochta agus ar feadh leathuair a chluig roimhe sin agus ar feadh leathuair a chluig ina dhiaidh sin.
(4) An fhaid a bheidh an vótaíocht ar oscailt ní dhéanfidh aon ghníomhaire pearsanála an stáisiún vótaíochta a leagadh amach do d'fhágaint gan cead d'fháil ón oifigeach ceannais roimh ré ná gan gach clár, leabhar agus scríbhinn, in ar dhin sé aon nóta, scríobhadh no marc le linn na vótaíochta d'fhágaint ag an oifigeach ceannais agus tabharfar na cláir, na leabhair agus na scríbhinní sin thar n-ais do ar fhille chun an stáisiúin vótaíochta dho.
(5) Aon ghníomhaire pearsanála a fhágfidh stáisiún vótaíochta contrárdha don bhfo-alt sin roimhe seo, ní leigfar do fille chun an stáisiúin vótaíochta san go dtí go mbeidh deire leis an vótaíocht, agus, i dteanta aon phionóis eile, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén Acht so agus, ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair, féadfar pionós do chur air nách mó ná trí mhí príosúntachta i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre.
Cara agus Eascara i referendum do cheapa.
23.—(1) Aon uair a iarrfar referendum fé Airtiogal 47 den Bhunreacht—
(a) féadfidh Dáil Éireann duine do cheapa chun bheith ina Chara don Bhille; agus
(b) más le Rún a rithfidh Seanad Éireann a hiarrfar an referendum féadfidh Seanad Éireann duine do cheapa chun bheith ina Eascara don Bhille; agus
(c) más le hAchuinge a hiarrfar an referendum, féadfidh na baill de Dháil Éireann no na baill de Sheanad Éireann 'nar cuireadh an Bille ar fionnraoi ar a n-iarratas do réir Airtiogail 47 den Bhunreacht duine do cheapa chun bheith ina Eascara don Bhille.
(2) Beidh ag gach duine den bheirt, an Cara agus an Eascara, chun gníomhaire do cheapa i ngach dáilcheanntar i Saorstát Éireann, an chomhacht chéanna a bronntar leis an Acht so no leis an Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), ar iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán sa dáilcheanntar san, agus gach foráil den Acht so no den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, a bhaineann le hiarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán do cheapa gníomhaire, bainfe sí le Cara no Eascara do cheapa gníomhairí.
(3) Gach gníomhaire a cheapfidh Cara no Eascara beidh aige, laistigh den dáilcheanntar dá gceapfar é mar ghníomhaire, na comhachta céanna, chun fo-ghníomhairí, gníomhairí pearsanála agus daoine do cheapa chun bheith i láthair le linn comhreamh na vótanna, agus a bronntar chuige sin leis an Acht so no leis an Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, ar iarrthóir no ar ghníomhaire iarrthóra i nDáil-toghachán sa dáilcheanntar san, agus gach foráil den Acht so no den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, a bhaineann le haon iarrthóir den tsórt san no a ghníomhaire do cheapa a leithéidí sin de ghníomhairí, de ghníomhairí pearsanála agus de dhaoine eile, agus na cirt, comhachtanna agus dualgaisí a bhaineann leis na daoine sin ar bheith ceaptha dhóibh amhlaidh, bainfid siad le n-a leithéidí sin de dhaoine ar bheith ceaptha dhóibh ag gníomhaire Carad no Eascarad.
(4) San alt so cialluíonn an focal “Bille” an Bille 'na dtógfar referendum mar gheall air.
Gníomhairí pearsanála i Seanad-toghacháin.
24.—(1) I Seanad-toghachán, socróidh ceann comhrimh gach dáilcheanntair cá mhéid duine (nách lú ná seisear) a fhéadfidh bheith i láthair thar ceann na n-iarrthóirí le linn comhreamh na vótanna sa dáilcheanntar sa mhéid gurb é an ceann comhrimh sin a dhéanfidh an comhreamh san.
(2) Féadfidh gach iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán no aon ghrúpa de sna hiarrthóirí sin duine do cheapa chun bheith i láthair thar a cheann no thar a gceann le linn comhreamh na vótanna i ngach dáilcheanntar.
(3) Nuair is mó an méid daoine a ceapfar fén alt so, chun bheith i láthair le linn comhreamh na vótanna, ná an méid a bheidh socair ag an gceann comhreamh i gcóir an chomhrimh sin, leigfidh an ceann comhrimh isteach i láthair an chomhrimh sin—
(a) gach éinne (má bhíonn éinne) a cheapfidh grúpa d'iarrthóirí nách lú a n-uimhir ná uimhir na n-iarrthóirí gur mian leo daoine do cheapa i gcóir an chomhrimh sin, ach an uimhir sin do roinnt le huimhir na ndaoine ar ar shocruigh an ceann comhrimh i gcóir an chomhrimh sin; agus
(b) daoine a roghfar le crannchur as na daoine eile a ceapfar fén alt so, oiread agus is leor chun an uimhir sin do dhéanamh suas a bheidh socair ag an gceann comhrimh i gcóir an chomhrimh sin.
(4) Gach achtachán a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire i dtaobh iarrthóir no gníomhaire iarrthóra i nDáil-toghachán do cheapa daoine chun bheith i láthair le linn comhreamh na vótanna thar ceann an iarrthóra san bainfid, sa mhéid ná beidh na hachtacháin sin bunoscionn leis an alt so, le hiarrthóirí i Seanad-toghachán do cheapa a leithéidí sin de dhaoine fén alt so.
Lucht pearsanála do ghabháil.
25.—(1) Le linn d'aon duine bheith ag tairsgint a vóta i dtoghachán no aon uair tar éis do vótáil agus roimh fhágaint na háite vótaíochta dho, má dhineann aon ghníomhaire pearsanála a bheidh i láthair go dleathach san áit vótaíochta san, a fhaisnéis don cheann comhrimh no d'oifigeach ceannais go gcreidean sé go fírinneach agus go dtógfa sé air féin a chruthú go bhfuil an duine sin ag déanamh cionta na pearsanála no go bhfuil sé tar éis é do dhéanamh, ordóidh an ceann comhrimh no an t-oifigeach ceannais sin do chonstábla póilíneachta an duine sin do ghabháil mar gheall ar chionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh.
(2) Má bhíonn cúis réasúnta ag an gceann comhrimh no ag aon oifigeach ceannais chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil cionta na pearsanála á dhéanamh no déanta ag aon duine a iarrfidh no d'iarr páipeur ballóide, féadfidh an ceann comhrimh no an t-oifigeach ceannais sin, sara bhfághfidh an duine sin an áit vótaíochta, a ordú do chonstábla póilíneachta an duine sin do ghabháil mar gheall ar chionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh.
(3) Déanfidh aon chonstábla póilíneachta, gan aon bharántas, gach duine a ordóidh an ceann comhrimh no oifigeach ceannais do a ghabháil, mar gheall ar chionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh, a ghabháil ar an gcúis sin.
(4) Féadfidh aon chonstábla póilíneachta gabháil do dhéanamh, gan aon bharántas, ar éinne a gheobhaidh an constábla póilí neachta san ag déanamh cionta na pearsanála no a chreidfidh an constábla póilíneachta san a bheith tar éis an cionta san do dhéanamh.
(5) Chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis a ghabhála déanfar gach éinne a gabhfar fén alt so do thabhairt i láthair Giúistís Dúithche agus deighleálfar leis do réir na dlí agus féadfar é do choinneáil i gcimeád go dtí go bhféadfar é do thabhairt i láthair Giúistís Dúithche ar an gcuma san.
(6) Aon ghabháil a húdaruítear leis an alt so, féadfar í do dhéanamh in aon áit, pe'ca laistigh no lasmuich d'áit vótaíochta é.
Pionós mar gheall ar chúis bhréagach pearsanála do thabhairt i gcoinnibh duine.
26.—(1) Aon uair a gabhfar aon duine fén Acht so de dheascaibh gníomhaire pearsanála á chur i leith an duine sin gur dhin sé cionta na pearsanála, agus ná tiocfidh an gníomhaire pearsanála i láthair an Ghiúistís Dúithche agus an gearán do chur ar aghaidh no go bhfuighidh an Giúistís Dúithche an duine sin nea-chiontach sa chionta do dhéanamh agus go bhfuighe sé gur dhin an gníomhaire pearsanála an gearán gan chúis réasúnta ná dóthanach, féadfidh an Giúistís, ar a iarraidh sin don té a gearánadh amhlaidh ach ní dá éamuis sin, a ordú don ghníomhaire pearsanála pé suim d'íoc leis an duine sin is ceart d'íoc mar éiric, dar leis an nGiúistís Dúithche, ach gan í do dhul thar £20, agus nuair a híocfar an tsuim sin go cuibhe déanfidh an té do gearánadh amhlaidh í do ghlaca mar shásamh iomlán i ngach éileamh uaidh mar gheall ar an ngearán san agus mar gheall ar a ghabháil agus a choinneáil ar an ngearán san.
(2) Ní luighfidh aon aicsean ná imeacht eile, síbhialta ná coiriúil, i gcoinnibh aon chinn chomhrimh ná oifigigh cheannais mar gheall ar ghabháil a dineadh ar éinne le n'ordú gan mailís mar gheall ar chionta na pearsanála do dhéanamh.
CUID IV.
Leathscealacha agus Eisceachtai Maidir le Cleachtanna Cuirpthe, etc.
Tuairisc ag saora an iarrthóra i gcásanna áirithe in ar dhin a ghníomhairí cleachtanna cuirpthe agus cleachtanna nea-dhleathacha.
27.—Aon uair a thuairisceoidh cúirt toghacháin go raibh iarrthóir ciontach, tré n-a ghníomhairí, i dtraeteáil agus in imirt chomhachta mhí-chuíosach agus i gcleacht nea-dhleathach no in aon chionta dhíobh san agus fós gur chruithuigh an t-iarrthóir don chuirt—
(a) nár dhin an t-iarrthóir ná a ghníomhaire toghacháin aon chleacht cuirpthe ná nea-dhleathach sa toghachán san agus gur i gcoinnibh orduithe an iarrthóra san no a ghníomhaire thoghacháin agus gan cead uatha agus i gan fhios dóibh a dineadh na ciontaí a luaidhtear sa tuairisc sin; agus
(b) gur thug an t-iarrthóir sin agus a ghníomhaire toghacháin gach aireachas réasúnta chun ná déanfaí cleachtanna cuirpthe ná nea-dhleathacha sa toghachán san; agus
(c) gur rudaí suaracacha, nea-tháchtacha, teoranta na ciontaí a luaidhtear sa tuairisc sin; agus
(d) go raibh an toghachán saor ar gach slí eile o aon chleacht cuirpthe no nea-dhleathach ar thaobh an iarrthóra san agus a ghníomhairí;
ní bheidh togha an iarrthóra san gan brí ná ní bheidh an t-iarrthóir fé aon mhí-chumas fén Acht so de dheascaibh na gciontaí a luaidhtear sa tuairisc sin.
Comhacht ag an Ard-Chúirt agus ag cúirt toghacháin gníomh nea-chiontach d'eisceacht o bheith ina chleacht neadhleathach, etc.
28.—Má dintar, tar éis iarratas do dhéanamh, a thaisbeáint don Ard-Chúirt no do chúirt toghacháin, le pé fianaise a fhéachann don Chúirt a bheith dóthanach—
(a) go mbeadh ina chleacht, ina íocaíocht, ina fhostú no ina chíosú nea-dhleathach mara mbeadh an t-alt so, aon ghníomh no faillí ag iarrthóir in aon tóghachán, no ag á ghníomhaire toghacháin no ag aon ghníomhaire no duine eile, toisc gurbh íocaíocht, tógaint-in-aimsir, fostú, no connra contrárdha don Acht so é no toisc gurbh íoc suime no dul fé chostas thar aon mhéid maximum a ceaduítear leis an Acht so é, no toisc é do bheith contrárdha d'aon cheann d'fhorálacha an Achta so ar aon tslí eile; agus
(b) gur tré nea-thabhairt-fé-ndeara no tré mhí-thuairimíocht chinniúnach a dineadh an gníomh no an fhaillí sin no tré aon chúis réasúnta eile den tsamhail sin, agus nách aon easba macántachta fé ndeár é ar aon chuma; agus
(c) gur tugadh, sa dáilcheanntar dar comóradh an toghachán, pé fógra i dtaobh an iarratais is oiriúnach dar leis an gcúirt;
agus má chítar don Chúirt gur rud ceart sa chás gan an t-iarrthóir agus an gníomhaire toghacháin agus an gníomhaire eile agus an duine eile, ná éinne acu, d'fhulang aon cheann de sna hiarsmaí do leanfadh, fén Acht so, as an ngníomh no faillí sin, féadfidh an Chúirt ordú do dhéanamh chun leigint don ghníomh no don bhfaillí sin bheith ina eisceacht o fhorálacha an Achta so, forálacha do dhéanfadh den chéanna, mara mbeadh an t-órdú san, cleacht, íocaíocht, fostú no cíosú nea-dhleathach, agus leis sin beidh an t-iarrthóir, an gníomhaire no an duine sin gan bheith fé aon cheann de sna hiarsmaí do leanfadh, fén Acht so, as an ngníomh no as an bhfaillí sin.
CUID V.
Costaisi Dail-toghachain.
Gníomhaire toghacháin d'ainmniú.
29.—(1) Ar an lá deireanach chun ainmniúcháin do ghlaca i nDáil-toghachán, no roimhe sin, ainmneofar duine ag gach iarrthóir no thar a cheann mar ghníomhaire dho i gcóir an toghacháin sin (dá ngairmtear an gníomhaire toghacháin san Acht so).
(2) Féadfidh iarrthóir é féin d'ainmniú mar ghníomhaire toghacháin agus leis sin beidh sé, chó fada is leigfidh an cás é, fé fhorálacha an Achta so mar iarrthóir agus mar ghníomhaire toghacháin, agus aon tagairt atá san Acht so do ghníomhaire toghacháin léireofar í mar thagairt don iarrthóir ag gníomhú mar ghníomhaire toghacháin.
(3) Ar an lá deireannach chun ainmniúcháin do ghlaca, no roimhe sin, faisneoidh gach iarrthóir, no duine éigin eile thar a cheann, ainm agus seola a ghníomhaire toghacháin don cheann chomhrimh i scríbhinn, agus láithreach ina dhiaidh sin tabharfidh an ceann comhrimh fógra puiblí i dtaobh ainm agus seola gach gníomhaire toghacháin a fhaisníodh amhlaidh.
(4) Ní ceapfar ach aon ghníomhaire toghacháin amháin do gach iarrthóir, ach féadfar an ceapa d'athghairm, pe'ca an t-iarrthóir féin no a mhalairt an gníomhaire toghacháin do ceapadh, agus má dintar an ath-ghairm sin no má fhaghann an gníomhaire sin bás, pe'ca roimh an toghachán no le n-a linn no ina dhiaidh, sa chás san déanfar láithreach gníomhaire toghacháin eile do cheapa agus a ainm agus a sheola d'fhaisnéis i scríbhinn don cheann chomhrimh, agus tabharfidh seisean fógra puiblí láithreach i dtaobh an chéanna.
Leas-ghníomhaire toghacháin d'ainmniú mar fho-ghníomhaire.
30.—(1) I gcás na nDáil-toghachán a luaidhtear chuige sin sa chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so féadfidh gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir an méid leas-ghníomhairí a luaidhtear ansan do cheapa (leas-ghníomhairí dá ngairmtear fo-ghníomhairí san Acht so) chun gníomhú laistigh de cheanntair dhefriúla vótaíochta.
(2) Maidir le nithe i gceanntar vótaíochta féadfidh an gníomhaire toghacháin gníomhú tríd an bhfo-ghníomhaire don cheanntar san, agus éinní a déanfar, chun crícheanna an Achta so, ag an bhfo-ghníomhaire, no leis, ina cheanntar féin tuigfar gur dineadh é ag an ngníomhaire toghacháin no leis, agus aon ghníomh no faillí a dhéanfidh fo-ghníomhaire agus a bheadh, dá mba eisean an gníomhaire toghacháin, ina chleacht nea-dhleathach no ina chionta eile i gcoinnibh an Achta so, beidh sé ina chleacht nea-dhleathach agus ina chionta i gconnibh an Achta so a dhin an fo-ghníomhaire agus féadfar pionós do chur ar an bhfo-ghníomhaire dá réir sin; agus beidh an t-iarrthóir fén mí-chumas céanna fé n-a mbeadh sé dá mb'é gníomh no faillí an ghníomhaire thoghacháin an gníomh no an fhaillí sin.
(3) Lá amháin glan roimh an lá a ceapfar chun an vótaíocht do thógaint faisneoidh an gníomhaire toghacháin ainm agus seola gach fo-ghníomhaire don cheann chomhrimh i scríbhinn, agus láithreach ina dhiaidh sin tabharfidh an ceann comhrimh fógra puiblí i dtaobh ainm agus seola gach fo-ghníomhaire a faisníodh amhlaidh.
(4) Ní thuitfidh ceapa fo-ghníomhaire ar lár tríd an ngníomhaire toghacháin do cheap é do scur de bheith ina ghníomhaire toghacháin, ach an té is gníomhaire toghacháin don iarrthóir de thurus na huaire féadfa sé an ceapa d'athghairm, agus má dintar an ath-ghairm sin no má fhaghann fo-ghníomhaire bás féadfar fo-ghníomhaire eile do cheapa agus faisneofar a ainm agus a sheola i scríbhinn don cheann chomhrimh láithreach agus tabharfidh seisean fógra puiblí láithreach i dtaobh an chéanna.
Oifig an ghníomhaire thoghacháin agus an fho-ghníomhaire.
31.—(1) Beidh ag gníomhaire toghacháin i nDáil-toghachán, laistigh den dáilcheanntar, no laistigh d'aon chontae cathrach no baile teoranta leis, no, i gcás dáilcheanntair phríomh-scoile, sa chathair ina bhfuil an phríomh-scoil suidhte, agus beidh ag fo-ghníomhaire laistigh dá cheanntar, no laistigh d'aon chontae cathrach no baile teoranta leis, oifig no áit chun a bhféadfar gach éileamh, fógra, rit, gairm agus scríbhinn do chur, agus faisneofar don cheann chomhrimh seola na hoifige no na háite sin san aon am ina bhfaisneofar ceapa an ghníomhaire sin do, agus cuirfar síos é sa bhfógra puiblí a tabharfar i dtaobh ainm an ghníomhaire.
(2) Aon éileamh, fógra, rit, gairm, no scríbhinn a seachadfar ag an oifig no an áit sin agus seola an ghníomhaire no an fhoghníomhaire air, pe'ca aca é, tuigfar gur seirbheáladh air é agus in aon chúirt 'na bhfuil údarás aici sa chathair, sa bhaile no sa chontae ina bhfuil an oifig no an áit sin suidhte féadfar dlí do chur ar gach gníomhaire den tsórt san i dtaobh éinní a bhaineann leis an toghachán ina bhfuil sé ag gníomhú.
Connartha a déanfar tré ghníomhaire toghacháin.
32.—(1) Déanfidh an té is gníomhaire toghacháin d'iarrthóir uaidh féin no tré n'fho-ghníomhaire gach gníomhaire pearsanála, cléireach agus teachtaire do cheapa a fostófar ar íocaíocht thar ceann an iarrthóra i dtoghachán agus gach seomra coiste do thógaint ar cíos a tógfar ar cíos thar ceann an iarrthóra.
(2) Aon chonnra tré n-a raghfar fé chostaisí ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí toghacháin ní féadfar é do chur i bhfeidhm i gcoinnibh iarrthóra sa toghachán san marab é an t-iarrthóir féin no a ghníomhaire toghacháin a dhin é uaidh féin no tré n'fho-ghníomhaire; ach ní dhéanfidh an neamh-ábaltacht fén alt so, i dtaobh an chonnartha san d'fheidhmiú i gcoinnibh an iarrthóra, an t-iarrthóir do shaora o sna hiarsmaí a leanfidh as a ghníomhaire do dhéanamh aon chleachta chuirpthe no neadhleathaigh.
Íocfar costaisí tríd an ngníomhaire toghacháin.
33.—(1) Ach amháin mar a ceaduítear leis an Acht so no dá réir, ní dhéanfidh iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán ná ní dhéanfidh aon ghníomhaire thar ceann an iarrthóra aon íoc ná roimh-íoc d'íoc ná éarlais do chur síos mar gheall ar aon chostaisí fé n-a raghfar ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin, ach amháin tré ghníomhaire toghacháin an iarrthóra, ag gníomhú i bpearsain no tré fho-ghníomhaire; agus gach airgead a sholáthróidh éinne seachas an t-iarrthóir i gcóir aon chostaisí fé n-a raghfar ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin, pe'ca mar bhronntanas, mar iasacht, mar roimh-íoc no mar éarlais, íocfar é leis an iarrthóir no le n-a ghníomhaire toghacháin agus ní le héinne eile:
Ach ní tuigfar baint do bheith ag an alt so le héarlais do réir Alt 20 den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923) ná le haon tsuim a íocfidh éinne as a chuid airgid féin mar gheall ar aon mhion-chostas fé n-ar chuaidh sé féin go dleathach, mara n-aisíocfar an tsuim sin leis.
(2) Einne a íocfidh aon íoc, roimh-íoc no éarlais contrárdha don alt so no a íocfidh contrárdha don alt so aon airgead a soláthrófar mar adubhradh beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
Tréimhse chun éilithe do chur isteach agus chun costaisí toghacháin d'íoc.
34.—(1) Gach íoc a dhéanfidh gníomhaire toghacháin, uaidh féin no tré fho-ghníomhaire, mar gheall ar aon chostaisí fé n-ar chuathas ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí Dáil-toghacháin, deimhneofar é le bille mion-innste agus le hadmháil ach amháin nuair is lú ná dachad scilling é.
(2) Gach éileamh a déanfar i gcoinnibh iarrthóra i nDáiltoghachán no i gcoinnibh a ghníomhaire toghacháin mar gheall ar aon chostaisí fé n-ar chuathas ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin agus ná cuirfar isteach chun an ghníomhaire thóghacháin laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so dúnfar amach é agus ní híocfar é; agus lasmuich d'aon eisceacht a ceadófar do réir an Achta so, aon ghníomhaire toghacháin a íocfidh-éileamh contrárdha don achtachán so beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(3) Ach amháin mar a ceaduítear leis an Acht so, sí an aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so chun éilithe do chur isteach ná cheithre lá déag tar éis an lá ar a bhfaisneofar na hiarrthóirí a toghadh do bheith tofa.
(4) Gach costas fé n-a raghaidh iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán no fé n-a raghfar thar a cheann agus gur ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin a raghfar fútha, íocfar iad laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so agus ní haon uair eile; agus lasmuich d'aon eisceacht a ceadófar do réir an Achta so, aon ghníomhaire toghacháin a dhéanfidh íoc contrárdha don bhforáil seo beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach.
(5) Ach amháin mar a ceaduítear leis an Acht so, sí aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so chun costaisí den tsórt san roimhráite d'íoc ná ocht lá fichead tar éis an lá ar a bhfaisneofar an t-iarrthóir no na hiarrthóirí a toghadh do bheith tofa.
(6) Má thuairiscíonn an chúirt toghacháin gur chruthuigh an t-iarrthóir don chúirt sin gur gan cead ón iarrthóir sin no i gan fhios do a dhin gníomhaire toghacháin aon íoc contrárdha don alt so, ní bheidh togha an iarrthóra san gan brí, ná ní leor chun é do chur fé aon mhí-chumas fén Acht so an t-íoc san do bheith déanta contrárdha don alt so.
(7) Má dhineann an gníomhaire toghacháin i gcás aon éilimh a cuireadh isteach chuige laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so an t-éileamh san do chur in imreasán, no diúltú d'é d'íoc no faillí do thabhairt in é d'íoc laistigh den tréimhse sin an ocht lá fichead, tuigfar an t-éileamh san do bheith ina éileamh in imreasán.
(8) Féadfidh an t-éilitheoir, más oiriúnach leis é, aicsean do bhunú in aon chúirt údarásach mar gheall ar éileamh in imreasán; agus aon tsuim a íocfidh an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire do réir breithe no ordú a dhéanfidh an chúirt sin tuigfar gur híocadh é laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so agus gur eisceacht i ó sna forálacha den Acht so a orduíonn don ghníomhaire toghacháin éilithe d'íoc.
(9) Ar chúis do thaisbeáint chun sástachta don Ard-Chúirt féadfidh an chúirt sin, le hordú, ar iarratas an éilitheora no ar iarratas an iarrthóra no a ghníomhaire toghacháin, cead do thabhairt d'iarrthóir no dá ghníomhaire toghacháin éileamh, in imreasán no éileamh ar aon chostaisí den tsórt san roimhráite d'íoc, bíodh gur cuireadh isteach é tar éis na haimsire a luaidhtear san alt so chun éilithe do chur isteach no bíodh gur isteach chun an iarrthóra a cuireadh é agus nách chun an ghníomhaire thoghacháin.
(10) Aon tsuim a luadhfar san ordú ceada féadfidh an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire toghacháin í d'íoc, agus nuair a híocfar í do réir an cheada san tuigfar gur híocadh í laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so.
Eileamh i gcoinnibh iarrthóra do chur fé scrúdú.
35.—Má bunuítear aon aicsean in aon chúirt údarásach chun éileamh in imreasán do bhaint d'iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán, no dá ghníomhaire toghacháin, i dtaobh aon chostaisí fé n-ar chuathas ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin sin, agus má admhuíonn an cosantóir a fhreagarthacht ach go gcuirfe sé méid an éilimh in imreasán, déanfar an méid sin, mara n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt ar iarratas an ghearánaí, do chur go dtí an máistir, an réiteoir oifigiúil, an clárathóir no oifigeach ceart eile den chúirt láithreach chun é do scrúdú, agus an méid a gheobhfar a bheith dlite, de bharr an scrúduithe sin, sín é an méid a bheidh le baint amach san aiscean son mar gheall ar an éileamh san.
Costaisí pearsanta iarrthóra agus mionchostaisí.
36.—(1) Féadfidh an t-iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán aon chostaisí pearsanta fé n-a ragha sé ar son no í dtaobh no a' los an toghacháin sin suas go dtí méid nách mó ná céad púnt d'íoc ach isé a ghníomhaire toghacháin a íocfidh aon chostaisí pearsanta eile fé n-a ragha sé ar an gcuma san.
(2) Cuirfidh an t-iarrthóir chun an ghníomhaire thoghacháin, laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so chun éilithe do chur isteach, cuntas scríbhte ar mhéid na gcostaisí pearsanta d'íoc an t-iarrthóir sin mar adubhradh.
(3) Féadfidh éinne, ach údarás scríbhte do bheith aige chuige o ghníomhaire thoghacháin an iarrthóra, aon chostaisí riachtanacha páipeurachta, postais, telegramanna, agus mion-chostaisí eile d'íoc suas go dtí oiread ar fad is ná raghaidh thar an méid a bheidh luaidhte san údarás, ach isé an gníomhaire toghacháin a íocfidh éinní sa bhreis ar an méid sin.
(4) Déanfar cuntas mion-innste ar an íoc a dhin aon duine a húdaruíodh amhlaidh do chur chun an ghníomhaire thoghacháin laistigh den aimsir a teorantar leis an Acht so chun éilithe do chur isteach agus deimhneofar é le bille ina mbeidh admháil an duine sin.
Luach saothair don ghníomhaire thoghacháin.
37.—Chó fada is leigfidh an cás é, bainfidh an tAcht so le héileamh o ghníomhaire thoghacháin ar a luach saothair agus le n-a íoc san díreach fé is dá mb'aon éilitheoir eile fiach é, agus má eiríonn aon easaontas i dtaobh méid an éilimh sin, beidh an t-éileamh ina éileamh in imreasán do réir brí an Achta so, agus deighleálfar leis dá réir.
Cuntas agus faisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin.
38.—(1) Laistigh de chúig lá déag ar fhichid tar éis an lae ar a bhfaisneofar an t-iarrthóir no na hiarrthóirí a toghadh i nDáiltoghachán do bheith tofa, cuirfidh gníomhaire toghacháin gach iarrthóra sa toghachán san ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh cuntas fírinneach (dá ngairmtear san Acht so cuntas i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin), sa bhfuirm orduithe, ina mbeidh, maidir leis an iarrthóir sin—
(a) ráiteas ar gach íoc a dhin an gníomhaire toghacháin, maraon le gach bille agus admháil (billí agus admhála a foluítear san Acht so sa bhfocal “cuntas i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin”);
(b) ráiteas ar mhéid na gcostaisí pearsanta d'íoc an t-iarrthóir, más ann dóibh;
(c) ráiteas ar gach éileamh eile in imreasán is eol don ghníomhaire thoghacháin;
(d) ráiteas ar gach éileamh neamh-íoctha, atá, má tá aon cheann, ar eolas ag an ngníomhaire toghacháin, agus 'na bhfuiltar tar éis no ar tí iarratas do chur fé bhráid na hArd-Chúirte ina thaobh;
(e) ráiteas ar gach airgead, urrús, agus ní is ionann agus airgead a fuair an gníomhaire toghacháin ón iarrthóir no o éinne eile i gcóir costaisí fé n-ar chuathas no 'na rabhthas chun dul fútha ar son no i dtaobh stiúra no bainistí an toghacháin, maraon le hainm gach duine o n-a bhfuarthas an céanna.
(2) Beidh i dteanta an chuntais a cuirfar ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh faisnéis a dhéanfidh an gníomhaire toghacháin i bhfianaise Giúistís Dúithche no Coimisinéara Síochána sa bhfuirm orduithe (faisnéis dá ngairmtear san Acht so faisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin).
(3) Má ainmnigh an t-iarrthóir é féin mar ghníomhaire toghacháin do féin déanfar ráiteas ar gach airgead, urrús agus ní is ionann agus airgead, dar íoc an t-iarrthóir, do chur sa chuntas a orduíonn an t-alt so don ghníomhaire thoghacháin a chur ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh in ionad a leithéide de ráiteas ar airgead, urrús agus ni is ionann agus airgead a fuair an gníomhaire toghacháin ón íarrthóir; agus an fhaisnéis sin ón ghníomhaire toghaoháin i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin ní gá í do dhéanamh agus atharofar ar an gcuma orduithe an fhaisnéis ón iarrthóir i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin.
(4) San am gcéanna ina gcuirfidh an gníomhaire an cuntas san chun an chinn chomhrimh, no laistigh de sheacht lá ina dhiaidh sin, cuirfidh an t-iarrthóir no cuirfe sé fé ndeár go gcuirfar chun an chinn chomhrimh faisnéis a dhéanfa sé i bhfianaise Giúistís Dúithche no Coimisinéara Síochána sa bhfuirm orduithe (faisnéis dá ngairmtear san Acht so faisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin).
(5) Más rud é i gcás Dáil-toghacháin i gcóir aon dáilcheanntair ná cuirfar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí sin chun an chinn chomhrimh roimh dheire na haimsire a teorantar chuige sin, ní dhéanfidh an t-iarrthóir, tar éis deire na haimsire sin, suidhe ná vótáil sa Dáil mar bhall don dáilcheanntar san go dtí go gcuirfar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí sin chun an chinn chomhrimh no go dtí an dáta ar a lomhálfar leathscéal údaruithe do ghabháil mar gheall ar gan an céanna do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh, mar a luaidhtear san Acht so, agus má shuidheann no má vótálann sé contrárdha don achtachán so caillfe sé, ar phróiseacht ón Ard-Aturnae, céad púnt in aghaidh gach lá a shuidhfidh no a vótálfa sé amhlaidh.
(6) Má dhineann iarrthóir no gníomhaire toghacháin, gan leathscéal údaruithe mar a luaidhtear san Acht so, faillí sna nithe a horduítear leis an alt so beidh sé ciontach i gcleacht neadhleathach.
(7) Má innseann iarrthóir no gníomhaire toghacháin éitheach toiliúil sa bhfaisnéis a horduítear leis an alt so, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta, agus ar a fháil ciontach ann tar éis a dhíotála, féadfar an pionós a ghabhann le mionn bréagach toiliúil cuirpthe do chur air; tuigfar an cionta san do bheith ina chleacht chuirpthe, leis, do réir brí an Achta so.
(8) I gcás an t-iarrthóir do bheith lasmuich de Shaorstát Éireann agus an cuntas san á chur ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh mar sin, féadfa sé an fhaisnéis a horduítear leis an alt so do dhéanamh laistigh de cheithre lá déag tar éis fille go Saorstát Éireann do, agus sa chás san cuirfar an fhaisnéis ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh láithreach, ach ní dhéanfidh an mhoill a húdaruítear leis seo an gníomhaire toghacháin do shaora o fhorálacha an Achta so do chó-líona maidir leis an gcuntas agus leis an bhfaisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin.
(9) Má dhineann an Ard-Chúirt, tar éis dáta an chuntais i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh, cead do thabhairt chun aon éilithe d'íoc cuirfidh an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire toghacháin chun an chinn chomhrimh, laistigh de sheacht lá tar éis a n-íoctha san, cuntas ar na suimeanna a híocadh do réir an cheada san maraon le cóip den ordú cúirte le n-ar tugadh an cead, agus mara ndéanfa sé amhlaidh tuigfar gur theip air na nithe a horduítear leis an alt so do dhéanamh agus san gan leathscéal údaruithe mar a luaidhtear san Acht so.
Leathscéal údaruithe mar gheall ar neachó-líona na bhforálacha i dtaobh cuntais agus faisnéise i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin.
39.—(1) Mara ndintar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin iarrthóra i nDáil-toghachán i gcóir aon dáilcheanntair do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh mar a horduítear leis an Acht so, no má dineadh san agus go raibh earráid no ráiteas bréagach ionta, ansan—
(a) má leagann an t-iarrthóir iarratas fé bhráid na hArd-Chúirte no cúirte toghacháin agus go dtaisbeánfa sé gurbh é rud ba bhun le gan an cuntas agus na faisnéisí sin, no aon cheann acu, no aon chuid díobh, do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh, no ba bhun le haon earráid no ráiteas bréagach ionta, ná é do bheith breoite, no a ghíomhaire toghacháin no a fho-ghníomhaire no aon chléireach no oifigeach leis an ngníomhaire sin do bheith as láthair, no do bheith tar éis bháis, no breoite, no mí-iompartha, no nea-thabhairt-fé-ndeara no aon chúis réasúnta den tsórt san, agus nách aon easba macantachta ar an iarratasóir fé ndeár é; no
(b) má leagann gníomhaire toghacháin an iarrthóra iarratas fé bhráid na hArd-Chúirte no cúirte toghacháin agus go dtaisbeánfa sé gurbh é rud ba bhun le gan an cúntas agus na fáisnéisí sin do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh a bhí ceangailte air a chur ag triall air, no ba bhun le haon earráid no ráiteas bréagach ionta, ná é do bheith breoite no bás no breoiteacht aon ghníomhaire thoghacháin a bhí i bhfeidhmeanas an iarrthóra roimhe no aon fho-ghníomhaire, cléireach, no oifigeach do ghníomhaire don iarrthóir do bheith as láthair no do bheith tar éis bháis, no breoite no mí-iompartha, no neathabhairt-fé-ndeara no aon chúis réasúnta den tsórt san, agus nách aon easba macántachta ar an iarratasóir é;
féadfidh an chúirt, tar éis pé fógra is oiriúnach léi i dtaobh an iarratais sa dáilcheanntar san agus tar éis pé fianaise is oiriúnach léi ar na forais a ráitear san iarratas agus ar mhacántacht an iarratais do bheith tabhartha i láthair agus tar éis pé ní eile a bheith déanta is oiriúnach léi, pé ordú do dhéanamh, a chítar don chúirt a bheith ceart, chun leathscéal údaruithe do lomháil i dtaobh na faillí a tugadh sa chuntas agus sa bhfaisnéis sin do chur chun an chinn chomhrimh no i dtaobh aon earráide no ráitis bhréagaigh sa chuntas agus sa bhfaisnéis sin.
(2) Má chítar don chúirt gur dhin aon duine atá no a bhí ina ghníomhaire thoghachán no ina fho-ghníomhaire diúltú no faillí i dtaobh déanamh pé cuntais no soláthar pé mion-innste a chuirfadh ar chumas an iarrthóra agus a ghníomhaire thoghacháin fé seach forálacha an Achta so do chó-líona leis an gcuntas agus leis an bhfaisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin déanfaidh an chúirt, sara ndéanfa sí ordú ag lomháil an leathscéil mar a luaidhtear san alt so, a ordú don duine sin teacht i láthair na cúirte agus, ar theacht i láthair do, mara dtaisbeánfa sé cúis chun a mhalairt, ordóidh sí dho an cúntas agus an fhaisnéis do dhéanamh, no ráiteas do sheachada ar na mion-innste is gá a bheith sa chuntas, fé mar a chífar don chúirt a bheith ceart, agus an céanna do dhéanamh agus do sheachada laistigh de pé aimsir agus do pé duine agus ar pé cuma a ordóidh an chúirt no féadfa sí a ordú go scrúdófar é i dtaobh na mion-innste sin agus má fhágann sé aon ordú den tsórt san gan chó-líona féadfa sí a ordú dho fíneáil nách mó ná cúig céad púnt d'íoc.
(3) Féadfidh an t-ordú an lomháil do dhéanamh ar choiníoll go ndéanfar an cuntas agus an fhaisnéis i bhfuirm atharuithe no laistigh d'aimsir bhreise agus go gcó-líonfar pé téarmaí eile is dó leis an gcúirt is fearr chun cuspóirí an Achta so do chur in éifeacht; agus déanfidh ordú lomhálta leathscéil údaruithe an té d'iarr an t-ordú do shaora o aon bhaol no iarsmaí fén Acht so a leanfadh as an ní a maithfar leis an ordú; agus má chruthuíonn an t-iarrthóir don chúirt gur gan cead ón iarrthóir agus i gan fhios do a dhin an gníomhaire toghacháin aon ghníomh no faillí a dhin sé maidir leis an gcuntas agus leis an bhfaisnéis i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin, agus gur thug an t-iarrthóir gach aire réasúnta chun an gníomh no an fhaillí sin do chosc, saorfidh an chúirt an t-iarrthóir o iarsmaí an ghnímh no na faillí sin a dhin a ghníomhaire toghacháin.
(4) Dáta lomhálta an leathscéil isea a gairmtear san Acht so de dháta an orduithe no má bhíonn coiníollacha agus téarmaí le có-líona, den dáta ar a mbeid có-líonta go hiomlán ag an iarratasóir.
Foillsiú achmaireachta ar chuntas na gcostaisí toghacháin.
40.—(1) Laistigh de dheich lá tar éis do cuntas i dtaobh costaisí toghacháin d'fháil o ghníomhaire toghacháin iarrthóra, foillseoidh an ceann comhrimh i nDáil-toghachán, i dhá bpáipeur ar a luíod dá léitear sa dáilcheanntar dar comóradh an toghachán, fógra i dtaobh an ama agus na háite ina bhféadfar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí (maraon leis na scríbhinní a ghabhann leo) d'iniúcha.
(2) Déanfar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí (maraon leis na scríbhinní a ghabhann leo) a chuir gníomhaire toghacháin ag triall ar an gceann comhrimh do chimeád in oifig an chinn chomhrimh no in áit éigin chaothúil a cheapfa sé sin, agus ar gach uair réasúnta i rith an dá bhliain tar éis don cheann chomhrimh iad d'fháil féadfidh éinne iad d'iniúcha ach táille scillinge d'íoc agus déanfidh an ceann comhrimh, má iarrtar san air, cóipeanna dhíobh no d'aon chuid díobh do sholáthar ar dhá phingin an dá fhocal déag is trí fichid. Ar bheith istigh don dá bhliain sin féadfidh an ceann comhrimh a chur fé ndeár go ndítheofar an cuntas agus na faisnéisí sin (maraon leis na scríbhinní a ghabhann leo) no, má iarann an t-iarrthóir no a ghníomhaire toghacháin san, déanfa sé an céanna do thabhairt thar n-ais don iarrthóir.
CUID VI.
Gniomhairi Toghachain i Seanad-Toghachain.
Iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán do cheapa gníomhaire toghacháin.
41.—(1) Beidh ag iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán an chomhacht chéanna chun gníomhaire toghacháin do cheapa a bronntar leis an Acht so no leis an Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), ar iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán.
(2) Na forálacha uile den Acht so no den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, i dtaobh iarrthóir i nDáil-toghachán do cheapa gníomhaire bainfid le hiarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán do cheapa gníomhaire ach iad d'atharú i dtreo—
(a) go ndéanfar tagartha a dintar sna forálacha don lá deireannach chun glactha ainmniúchán do léiriú mar thagartha don dara lá tar éis dáta an fhurógra le n-a gceapfar an lá ar a ndéanfar an Seanad-toghachán;
(b) gurb é Ceann Comhrimh an tSeanaid an ceann comhrimh dá dtabharfar fógra i dtaobh gníomhaire toghacháin do bheith ceaptha ag iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán agus i dtaobh ainm agus seola agus oifig an ghníomhaire sin;
(c) ná beidh sé riachtanach fógra puiblí do thabhairt i dtaobh ceapa, ainm, seola no oifig ghníomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán.
Cirt, dualgaisí agus comhachtanna gníomhairí i Seanad-toghachán.
42.—(1) Gach foráil den Acht so no den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), i dtaobh cearta, comhachtanna agus dualgaisí gníomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag iarrthóir i nDáiltoghachán, bainfe sí le gníomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán ach amháin mar a foráltar a mhalairt leis an gCuid seo den Acht so.
(2) Ní tuigfar éinní san Acht so no san Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, do bheith ag tabhairt údaráis d'iarrthóir i Seanadtoghachán ná do ghníomhaire aon iarrthóra den tsórt san chun leas-ghníomhaire, fo-ghníomhaire, nó gníomhaire pearsanála do cheapa.
CUID VII.
Toghthoiri fe Mhi-chailiocht.
Liost sa chlár toghthóirí de dhaoine nách féidir dóibh vótáil toisc cleachtanna cuirpthe no neadhleathacha
43.—(1) Déanfidh an t-oifigeach clárathachta i ngach líomatáiste clárathachta gach bliain liost ar a mbeidh ainm agus tuairisc gach duine atá i dteideal a chláruithe mar Dháil-toghthóir no mar Sheanad-toghthóir no mar thoghthóir Rialtais Áitiúla ach nách féidir do, mar sin féin, vótáil i dtoghachán toisc go bhfuarthas ciontach é i gcleacht cuirpthe no nea-dhleathach trí n-a dhaora no tré thuairisc cúirte toghacháin, agus déarfidh an t-oifigeach clárathachta sa liost san (dá ngairmtear san Acht so “An Liost de Chleachtanna Cuirpthe agus Nea-dhleathacha”) an cionta in a bhfuarthas ciontach gach duine fé leith den tsórt san.
(2) Chun an liost san do dhéanamh amach scrúdóidh an t-oifigeach clárathachta tuairisc aon chúirte toghacháin a dhin fiosrúchán i dtaobh toghacháin a comóradh in aon dáilcheanntar i Saorstát Éireann.
(3) Foillseoidh an t-oifigeach clárathachta an liost de chleachtanna cuirpthe agus nea-dhleathacha ar an gcuma a horduítear leis an Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), agus cuirfe sé cóip den liost san ag triall ar gach oifigeach clárathachta eile i Saorstát Éireann.
(4) Einne 'na mbeidh a ainm ar an liost de chleachtanna cuirpthe agus nea-dhleathacha féadfa sé a éileamh go mbuailfar a ainm amach as agus éinne a bheidh i dteideal cur i gcoinnibh aon ainm ar liostaí na dtoghthóirí mar ainm duine a dheabhruíonn bheith i dteideal a chláruithe sa líomatáiste clárathachta san féadfa sé cur i gcoinnibh ainm éinne áirithe do bhuala amach as an liost san, agus déanfar gach éileamh agus agóid den tsórt san do chur isteach agus do sheirbheáil agus deighleálfar leo laistigh den am chéanna agus ar an gcuma gcéanna ar gach slí ina gcaithfar éilithe agus agóidí i gcoinnibh liostaí na dtoghthóirí sa líomatáiste clárathachta san do chur isteach agus do sheirbheáil agus deighleáil leo fén Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), agus aon bhreith ar éileamh no ar agóid a déanfar fén bhfo-alt so féadfar athchomharc do dhéanamh ina coinnibh díreach mar is féidir a dhéanamh i gcás a leithéid eile sin de bhreith ar éileamh no ar agóid i gcoinnibh an liost roimhráite de thoghthóirí fén Acht roimhráite.
(5) Má cuirtar ar liostaí na dtoghthóirí ainm duine atá de dheascaibh a fháil ciontach i gcleacht cuirpthe no nea-dhleathach, gan bheith i dteideal a chláruithe no i dteideal vótála i dtoghachán, ní thabharfidh san teideal don duine sin chun cur i gcoinnibh aon duine eile áirithe do chlárú.
CUID VIII.
Ilghneitheach.
An tArd-Atúrnae do dhéanamh fiosrúchán i gcleachtanna cuirpthe no nea-dhleathacha adéarfar bhí ar siúl.
44.—Má tugtar eolas d'Ard-Atúrnae Shaorstáit Éireann go raibh aon chleachtanna cuirpthe no nea-dhleathacha ar siúl i dtaobh aon toghacháin beidh sé de dhualgas ar an Ard-Atúrnae pé fiosrúchán do dhéanamh agus pé imeachta do bhunú a chífar do is gá sa chás.
Deire do chur le mí-chumas má cruthuítear gur le mionn bréagach a cuireadh ar éinne é.
45.—I gcás aon duine do theacht fé aon mhí-chumas tré n-a dhaora no tré thuairisc cúirte toghacháin, agus i gcás aon fhínné a thug fianaise i gcoinnibh an duine sin fé mhí-chumas le linn na himeachta i gcóir an daora no na tuairisce sin d'fháil ciontach i mionn bréagach sa bhfianaisé sin, féadfidh an duine fé mhíchumas a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt agus más deimhin leis an gCúirt sin gur ar mhionn bhréagach a bhí an daora no an tuairisc bunuithe sa mhéid gur bhaineadar leis an duine sin, féadfa sí a ordú go mbeidh deire leis an mí-chumas san as san amach agus beidh deire leis an gcéanna dá réir.
Pionós mar gheall ar dhíobháil do dhéanamh do bhoscaí ballóide no do pháipéirí ballóide.
46.—(1) Einne a dhéanfidh aon chionta dhíobh so a leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) bosca ballóide do thógaint gan údarás dleathach as cimeád cinn chomhrimh no oifigigh cheannais no éinne 'nar chuir ceann comhrimh an bosca ballóide sin go dleathach fé n-a chúram no ina chimeád; no
(b) aon bhosca ballóide do scrios, do mhille no do lot go mailíseach; no
(c) aon pháipeur ballóide do scrios, do straca no d'agha-lot go mailíseach; no
(d) samhail bhréagach den mharc oifigiúil do dhéanamh; no
(e) aon úirlis chun an marc oifigiúil do stampáil ar pháipéirí ballóide do thógaint chun siúil, do scrios no do lot. no aon aithris ar aon úirlis den tsórt san no aon tsamhail bhréaghach di do dhéanamh no do bheith ar seilbh aige;
ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair féadfar príosúntacht do chur air, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh aon tréimhse nách sia ná bliain, no ar a fháil ciontach tar éis é do dhíotáil féadfar príosúntacht do chuir air, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh aon tréimhse nách sia ná dhá bhliain, no pian-tseirbhís ar feadh aon tréimhse nách giorra ná trí bliana agus nách sia ná cúig bliana.
(2) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh—
(a) aon pháipeur ainmniúcháin do chlaon-sighniú no d'aghalot go calaoiseach no do scrios go calaoiseach, no aon pháipeur ainmniúcháin do sheachada don cheann comhrimh agus a fhios aige go bhfuil sé claon-sighnithe; no
(b) aon pháipeur ballóide no an mharc oifigiúil ar aon pháipeur ballóide do chlaon-chuma; no
(c) gan údarás cuibhe aon pháipeur ballóide do thabhairt d'éinne; no
(d) aon pháipeur do chur isteach in aon bhosca ballóide go calaoiseach seachas an páipeur ballóide 'na bhfuil údarás dlí aige chun é do chur isteach; no
(e) aon pháipeur ballóide do thógaint amach as an stáisiún vótaíochta go calaoiseach; no
(f) gan údarás cuibhe aon bhosca ballóide d'oscailt no baint leis in aon tslí eile;
ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair féadfar príosúntacht do chur air, i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh aon tréimhse nách sia ná bliain no, ar a fháil ciontach tar éis é do dhíotáil, féadfar príosúntacht do chur air, i dteanta no d'éamais daoroibre, ar feadh aon tréimhse nách sia ná dhá bhliain, no piantseirbhís ar feadh aon tréimhse nách giorra ná trí bliana agus nách sia ná cúig bliana.
Pionóisí mar gheall ar chiontaí áirithe i dtaobh clárathacthta.
47.—(1) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh faisnéis bhréagach i gcóir éilimh fé Rialacha 9 agus 10 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), chun clárú do dhéanamh mar Dháil-toghthóir, mar Sheanad-toghthóir no mar thoghthóir Rialtais Áitiúla, pe'ca dho féin no do dhuine éigin eile a bheidh an duine sin ag déanamh an éilimh sin, agus pe'ca ráiteas bréagach no fágaint ruda tháchtaigh ar lár a dhéanfidh faisnéis bréagach di, féadfar fíneáil nách lú ná £5 agus nách mó ná £20 do chur air ar a fháil ciontach ar an slí achmair ar a phróiseacht don cheann chomhrimh.
(2) Gach éinne a dhéanfidh d'aon ghnó díthiú, mí-chuma, scrios amach no aistriú ar aon fhógra, liost, cóip de chlár no scríbhinn eile a dhin oifigeach clárathachta a chur ar fáil i gcóir iniúchta no do phostáil suas no d'fhoillsiú ar aon tslí eile do réir na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal den Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), féadfar fíneáil nách lú ná deich scillinge agus nách mó ná dachad scilling do chur air ar a fháil ciontach ar a phróiseacht don oifigeach clárathachta no do chonstábla póilíneachta.
Iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán ag teacht fé mhí-cháilíocht le an toghacháin.
48.—(1) Má thagann aon iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán fé mhí-cháilíocht ná leigfidh é do thogha chun Seanaid Éireann aon uair tar éis an ainm-liost d'iarrthóirí i gcóir an toghacháin sin do bheith curtha le chéile agus sara dtosnóidh an Ceann Comhrimh Seanadach ar na vótanna do caitheadh sa toghachán san do chomhreamh, nuair a befar ag comhreamh na vótanna a caitheadh sa toghachán san geobhfar thar na roghna do breacadh don iarrthóir sin.
(2) Má thagann aon iarrthóir i Seanad-toghachán fé mhícháilíocht ná leigfidh é do thogha chun Seanaid Éireann aon uair tar éis don Cheann Chomhrimh Seanadach tosnú ar chomhreamh na vótanna a caitheadh sa toghachán san agus sara mbeidh an comhreamh san críochnuithe aige, tabharfar aire chuibhe do sna roghna do breacadh don iarrthóir sin agus tar éis an chomhrimh sin má fachtar an t-iarrthóir sin a bheith tofa, áireofar aon iarrthóir amháin a bheith tofa sa bhreis ar an méid folúntaisí a bheidh le líona.
Na coiníollacha ar a bhféadfidh fostathóir cead do thabhairt dá bhfostaithe a gcuid oibre d'fhágaint chun dul ag vótáil
49.—Ni bheidh sé nea-dhleathach d'fhostathóir de dheascaibh éinní san Acht so leigint do thoghthóirí i bhfostaíocht aige an fhostaíocht san d'fhágaint ar feadh tamaill réasúnta chun vótáil i dtoghachán, gan éinní do bhaint as a dtuarastail no as a bpágh mar gheall ar bheith as láthair mar sin, má tugtar an cead san, sa mhéid gur féidir é do thabhairt gan dochar do ghnó an fhostathóra san, do gach éinne, mar a chéile, a bheidh ar fostú aige an uair sin, agus mara dtugtar an cead san d'fhonn éinne do mhealla chun a vóta do bhreaca d'aon iarrthóir áirithe sa toghachán san, agus mara n-eitítear é ar aon duine d'fhonn an duine sin do chimeád gan a vóta do bhreaca d'aon iarrthóir áirithe sa toghachán san.
Teideal ag Dáiliarrthóirí chun postais áirithe in aisce
50.—(1) Fé réir rialachán a dhéanfidh Aire an Phuist o am go ham, beidh teideal ag gach toghthóir i nDáil-toghachán chun aon chomaoineadóireacht phuist amháin do chur ag triall ar gach duine ar chlár toghthóirí an dáilcheanntair gan aon phostas d'íoc, ach gan baint a bheith aici ach leis an toghachán amháin agus gan í do bheith thar dhá únsa meáchainte.
(2) Ní bheidh teideal ag iarrthóir an ceart chun postais in aisce a bronntar leis an alt so do chur i bhfeidhm sara mbeidh sé ainmnithe go cuibhe mara mbeidh tabhartha aige pé urraiocht a éileoidh Aire an Phuist go ndéanfa sé, mara n-ainmnítear é, an postas d'íoc ar gach comaoineadóireacht a chuirfe sé chun siúil fén alt so.
(3) Chun crícheanna an ailt seo áireofar mar aon iarrthóir amháin iarrthóirí a tuigfar a bheith ina gcó-iarrthóirí fén gCéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so.
Achuingíocha toghacháin i dtaobh Seanad-toghachán.
51.—Na hachtacháin a bhaineann le tíolaca agus triail achuingíocha toghacháin i dtaobh Dáil-toghachán bainfid le Seanad-toghacháin ach go ndéanfar na hatharuithe seo a leanas ortha, sé sin le rá:—
(a) féadfidh achuinge thoghacháin baint a bheith aici le haon dáilcheanntar amháin no le dhá dháilcheanntar no breis;
(b) féadfidh aon iarrthóir amháin no grúpa de bheirt no breis iarrthóirí achuinge thoghacháin i dtaobh Seanadtoghacháin do thíolaca.
Teora leis an aimsir chun próiseacht i dtaobh cionta.
52.—(1) Tosnófar ar imeacht do bhunú i gcoinnibh duine mar gheall ar chleacht cuirpthe no nea-dhleathach no aon chionta eile fén Acht so laistigh de bhliain tar éis an cionta do bheith déanta no, má dineadh an cionta i dtaobh toghacháin 'na mbeidh imeachta ar siúil i láthair cúirte toghacháin ina thaobh, tosnófar ar an imeacht laistigh de bhliain tar éis an cionta do bheith déanta no laistigh de thrí mhí tar éis tuairisc na cúirte sin a bheith déanta, pe'ca tréimhse dhíobh is déanaí 'na mbeidh deire léi ach go dtosnófar air laistigh de dhá bhliain tar éis an cionta do bheith déanta agus, i gcás aon imeachta fé sna hAchtanna Údaráis Achmair mar gheall ar aon chionta den tsórt san, pe'ca i láthair cúirte toghacháin é no ar a mhalairt de shlí déanfar an aimsir a teorantar leis an alt so do chur in ionad aon teorann aimsire a luaidhtear sna hAchtanna deiridh sin a luadhadh.
(2) Chun crícheanna an ailt seo tuigfar tabhairt amach gairme, barántais, riteach, no próisis eile do bheith ina tosnú ar imeacht dlí má dintar seirbheáil no feidhmiú an chéanna ar an té adeirtar a chiontuigh do chosc tríd an té adeirtar a chiontuigh do theiche no do dhul i bhfolach no do dhéanamh gnímh, ach lasmuich de sin isí seirbheáil no feidhmiú an chéanna ar an té adeirtar a chiontuigh a tuigfar a bheith ina tosnú ar an imeacht agus ní hí ta bhairt amach an chéanna.
Daoine a cúiseofar i gcleacht cuirpthe féadfar iad d'fháil ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach
53.—Einne a cúiseofar i gcleacht cuirpthe féadfar é d'fháil ciontach i gcleacht nea-dhleathach más ceaduithe san do réir staid an cháis (cionta a bheidh, chun na críche sin, ina chionta indíotálta) agus éinne a cúiseofar i gcleacht nea-dhleathach féadfar é d'fháil ciontach sa chionta san in ainneoin an gníomh gurb é an cionta san é do bheith ina chleacht chuirpthe, agus éinne a cúiseofar in íoc, fostú no cíosú nea-dhleathach féadfar é d'fháil ciontach sa chionta san in ainneoin an gníomh gurb é an cionta san é do bheith ina chleacht chuirpthe no nea-dhleathach.
Próiseacht ar an slí achmair, agus athchomharc chun ceathrú shiosóin.
54.—(1) Gach cionta fén Acht so 'na ngcobhadh pionós leis tar éis duine do dhaora ann ar an slí achmair féadfar é do phróiseacht ar an gcuma a foráltar leis na hAchtanna Údaráis Achmair.
(2) Einne a bheidh mí-shásta toisc gur dhin cúirt údaráis achmair é do dhaora i gcionta fén Acht so féadfa sé athchomharc do dhéanamh chun siosóin ghenerálta no chun ceathrú shiosóin i gcoinnibh an daora san.
Foillsiú fógraí.
55.—Aon fhógra puiblí nách foláir do cheann chomhrimh a thabhairt do réir an Achta so tabharfar é ar an gcuma ina n-orduíonn an tAcht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), do fógra puiblí do thabhairt fén Acht san.
Mínithe.
56.—San Acht so agus sna Sceidil a ghabhann leis, mara n-éilíonn an có-théacs a mhalairt—
Cialluíonn an focal “Dáil-toghachán” toghachán chun ball no baill do thogha chun fónamh i nDáil Éireann agus foluíonn sé toghachán corra chó maith le toghachán generálta;
Cialluíonn an focal “Dáil-toghthóir” duine i dteideal chun votáil i nDáil-toghachán;
Cialluíonn an focal “Seanad-toghachán” toghachán chun Seanadóirí do togha chun fónamh i Seanad Éireann;
Cialluíonn an focal “Seanad-toghthóir” duine i dteideal chun vótáil i Seanad-toghachán;
Nuair a húsáidtear an focal “Toghachán” gan a rá cadé an saghas é foluíonn sé Dáil-toghachán, Seanad-toghachán agus Referendum;
Cialluíonn an focal “Cúirt Toghacháin” aon chúirt no binse bunuithe fé aon Acht den Oireachtas agus údarás aici chun curtha i leith, cúisithe, imreasáin no difríochtaí i dtaobh toghachán i gcoitinne no i dtaobh aon toghacháin áirithe no saghas áirithe toghachán, d'iniúcha, d'éisteacht no do shocrú no tuairisc do thabhairt ortha;
Cialluíonn an focal “Achtanna Údaráis Achmair” na hAchtanna uile i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire i Saorstát Éireann i dtaobh cúirteanna údaráis achmair;
Ní fholuíonn an focal “seomra coiste” aon tigh ná seomra, ar seilbh ag iarrthóir i dtoghachán mar chomhnaí mar gheall air seo amháin: an t-iarrthóir do bheith ag déanamh gnótha le n-a ghníomhairí ann i dtaobh an toghacháin sin; ná ní tuigfar aon tseomra ná foirgneamh do bheith ina sheomra choiste chun crícheanna an Achta so mar gheall air seo amháin: an t-iarrthóir no aon ghníomhaire don iarrthóir do thabhairt óráide ann do thoghthóirí, do lucht coiste, no do dhaoine eile;
Foluíonn an focal “costaisí pearsanta,” nuair a húsáidtear é i dtaobh caithteachais aon iarrthóra mar gheall ar aon toghachán, costaisí réasúnta taistil an iarrthóra san agus costaisí réasúnta a chomhnaithe i dtithe ósta no in áiteanna eile chun crícheanna an toghacháin sin agus ina thaobh;
Foluíonn an focal “Údarás Áitiúil” comhairle chontae, chontae-bhuirge no aon bhuirge eile, thuath-cheanntair no bhaile-cheanntair, bord caomhnóirí, baile-choimisinéirí aon bhaile, agus aon chólucht puiblí eile a bunófar le haon Scéim Chontae chun aon chuid d'fheidhmeanna aon chólucht díobh san atá luaidhte thuas do chó-líona, agus aon choiste no cóchoiste d'aon údarás no cólucht den tsórt san no a ceapadh i bpáirt no go hiomlán ag aon údarás no cólucht den tsórt san;
Cialluíonn an focal “orduithe” orduithe le hordú a dhin an tAire um Rialtas Áitiúil;
Cialluíonn an focal “toghachán Rialtais Áitiúla” toghachán chun ball no baill d'Údarás Áitiúil do thogha;
Foluíonn an focal “constábla póilíneachta” aon bhall de Phóilíneacht Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath agus aon bhall den Ghárda Síochána;
Foluíonn an focal “íocaíocht” aon luach saothair in airgead no ar aon tslí eile;
Foluíonn na focail “luach saothair in airgead” agus “airgead” aon oifig, ionad no fostaíocht, agus aon urraíocht luachmhar no có-mhaith eile airgid, agus aon chomaoine luachmhar;
Gach focal a bhaineann le clárú, le toghthóirí no le toghacháin agus a húsáidtear san Acht so agus a húsáidtear fós san Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923 (Uimh. 12 de 1923), beidh an brí céanna leis atá leis an bhfocal san san Acht Timpeal Toghachán, 1923, mara mínítear ar shlí éigin eile san Acht so é.
Athghairmeanna.
57.—(1) Dintar leis seo na hachtacháin a luaidhtear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so d'ath-ghairm sa mhéid a háirítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal san, ach amháin sa mhéid go mbainid (má bainid in aon chor) le toghacháin eile seachas toghacháin Pháirliminteacha.
(2) Tuigfar gur tagartha don Acht so gach tagairt a dintar in aon reacht, ordú, rialachán, no riail d'aon cheann de sna hAchtanna a hath-ghairmtear i bpáirt no go hiomlán leis an Acht so, ach i gcás Achtanna a hath-ghairmtear i bpáirt leis an Acht so ní tuigfar amhlaidh ach sa mhéid go mbainid na tagartha san leis an gcuid sin dá leithéid sin d'Acht a hath-ghairmtear amhlaidh.
Gearr-Theideal.
58.—Féadfar an tAcht chun Droch-bhearta Toghacháin do Chosc, 1923, do ghairm den Acht so.
AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL.
CUID I.
Daoine ar fostú go dleathach ar íocaíocht.
1. Aon ghníomhaire toghacháin amháin agus gan a thuille.
2. I ndáilcheanntar contae aon leas-ghníomhaire toghacháin amháin (dá ngairmtear fo-ghníomhaire san Acht so) chun gníomhú laistigh de gach ceanntar vótaíochta, agus gan a thuille.
3. Aon ghníomhaire pearsanála amháin i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta agus gan a thuille.
4. I ndáilcheanntar buirge, roinnt cléireach agus teachtairí ná raghaidh a n-uimhir thar aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin in aghaidh gach cúig céad glan de thoghthóirí sa dáilcheanntar; agus má bhíonn aon uimhir de thoghthóirí ann sa bhreis ar aon chúig céad glan de thoghthóirí, ansan féadfar aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin d'fhostú in aghaidh na huimhreach san bíodh nách cúig céad glan í.
5. I ndáilcheanntar contae, don phrímh-sheomra coiste aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin in aghaidh gach cúig mhíle glan de thoghthóirí sa dáilcheanntar; agus má bhíonn aon uimhir de thoghthóirí ann sa bhreis ar aon chúig mhíle glan de thoghthóirí, annsan féadfar aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin d'fhostú in aghaidh na huimhreach san bíodh nách cuig mhíle glan í.
6. I ndáilcheanntar contae roinnt cléireach agus teachtairí, ná raghaidh a n-uimhir thar aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin in aghaidh gach ceanntair vótaíochta sa dáilcheanntar, no, i gcás breis is cúig céad toghthóir do bheith sa cheanntar vótaíochta, aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin in aghaidh gach cúig céad glan de thoghthóirí sa cheanntar vótaíochta, agus má bhíonn aon uimhir de thoghthóiri ann sa bhreis ar aon chúig céad glan no aon chúig céadtha glan de thoghthóirí annsan féadfar aon chléireach amháin agus aon teachtaire amháin d'fhostú in aghaidh na huimhreach san bíodh nách cúig céad glan í: Ach an méid cléireach agus teachtairí a lomhálfar mar sin in aon dáilcheanntar féadfar iad d'fhostú in aon cheanntar vótaíochta ina mbeidh gá le n-a seirbhís.
7. I ndáilcheanntar príomh-scoile, aon chléireach amháin in aghaidh gach míle glan de thoghthóirí sa dáilcheanntar; agus má bhionn aon uimhir de thoghthóirí ann sa bhreis ar aon mhíle glan de thoghthóirí, ansan féadfar aon chléireach amháin d'fhostú in aghaidh na huimhreach san bíodh nách míle glan í.
CUID II.
Costaisí Dleathacha sa Bhreis ar Chostaisí fé Chuid I.
1. Costaisí pearsanta na n-iarrthóirí.
2. Na costaisí clódóireachta, na costaisí fógraíochta agus na costaisí a bhaineann le díleagraí agus fógraí d'fhoillsiú, do thabhairt amach agus do roinnt.
3. Na costaisí páipeurachta, teachtaireachtaí, postais agus telegramanna.
4. Costaisí cruinnithe puiblí do chomóra.
5. I ndáilcheanntar buirge, costaisí aon tseomra choiste amháin, in aghaidh gach cúig céad glan de thoghthóirí sa dáilcheanntar; agus má bhíonn aon uimhir de thoghthóirí ann sa bhreis ar aon chúig céad glan de thoghthóirí, annsan costaisí aon tseomra choiste amháin in aghaidh na huimhreach san bíodh nách cúig céad glan í.
6. I ndáilcheanntar contae costaisí príomh-sheomra choiste agus, ina theanta san, costaisí roinnt seomraí coiste ná raghaidh a n-uimhir thar aon tseomra coiste amháin in aghaidh gach ceanntair vótaíochta sa dáilcheanntar; agus má bhíonn breis is cúig céad toghthóir i gceanntar vótaíochta féadfar aon tseomra coiste amháin sa bhreis do chíosú in aghaidh gach cúig céad glan de thoghthóirí sa cheanntar vótaíochta san sa bhreis ar an gcéad chúig céad.
7. I ndáilcheanntar príomh-scoile costaisí aon tseomra choiste amháin.
8. Costaisí nithe ilghnéitheacha seochas iad san a luaidhtear i gCuid I. agus sa Chuid seo den Sceideal so, ach mar sin féin san do bheith ar shlí ná raghfar fé chostaisí den tsórt san i dtaobh éinní ná ar aon chuma a bheadh ina chionta fén Acht so ná fé aon Acht eile ná i dtaobh aon ruda ná éinní 'na ndineann an tAcht so no aon Acht eile íocaíocht as do chosc go soiléir.
CUID III.
An Scála Maximum.
Na costaisí a luaidhtear i gCuideanna I. agus II. den Sceideal so agus nách costaisí pearsanta iad, agus an táille a íocfar, má íoctar é, leis an ngníomhaire toghacháin (agus ná raghaidh thar cúig púint déag is trí fichid i gcás toghacháin chontae ná thar deich bpúint is dachad i gcás toghacháin bhuirge, gan áireamh do dhéanamh, chun crícheanna na teorann san, ar aon chuid den táille a cuireadh mar chuid de sna costaisí is túisce a luaidhtear thuas) ní raghaid thar méid is ionann agus—
cúig pingine in aghaidh gach toghthóra ar an gclár, i gcás toghacháin chontae;
cheithre pingine in aghaidh gach toghthóra ar an gclár, i gcás toghacháin bhuirge.
I gcás beirt chó-iarrthóirí no breis do bheith i dtoghachán ’sé an méid maximum costaisí, i gCuideanna I., II. agus III. den Sceideal so, a lomhálfar do gach duine fé leith de sna có-iarrthóirí ná an méid a thiocfidh as maximum iarrthóra aonair do mhéadú fé n-a haon-go-leith agus a thora san do roinnt le huimhir na gcó-iarrthóirí.
CUID IV.
Generálta.
1. Chun crícheanna an Sceidil seo sé méid toghthóirí a bheidh i ndáilcheanntar no i gceanntar vótaíochta in aon toghachán ná an méid toghthóirí 'na mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an gclár de thoghthóirí a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire don dáilcheanntar no don cheanntar san mar dhaoine i dteideal chun vótáil sa toghachán san.
2. Má ceaptar an t-aon ghníomhaire toghacháin amháin ag no thar ceann beirt no breis iarrthóirí i dtoghachán no má dhineann beirt no breis iarrthóirí, uatha féin no tré aon ghníomhaire no gníomhairí, na seomraí coiste céanna do chíosú no d'úsáid i gcóir an toghacháin sin no seirbhís na bhfo-ghníomhairí, na gcléireach, na dteachtairí, no na ngníomhairí vótaíochta céanna d'fhostú no d'úsáid sa toghachán san, no có-dhileagra no có-chiorcalán no có-fhógra d'fhoillsiú sa toghachán san, tuigfar chun crícheanna an achtacháin seo gur có-iarrthóirí sa toghachán san na hiarrthóirí seo:
Ach—
(a) Ní tuigfar gur leor chun có-iarrthóirí do dhéanamh de dhaoine an t-aon tseomra coiste, fo-ghníomhaire, cléireach, teachtaire no gníomhaire toghacháin amháin do bheith ar fostú no in úsáid acu, más go cinniúnach no go nea-thuairimeach a thárla san no más rud suarach gan puinn brí an fostú no an úsáid sin.
(b) Ní dhéanfidh éinní san achtachán so iarrthóirí do chosc ar scur de bheith ina gcó-iarrthóirí.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL.
Siosón agus Caibideal. | Gearr-Theideal. | Méid na hAthghairme. |
13 &14 Vic. c. 69. | Acht Ionadaíocht na nDaoine (Éirinn), 1850. | Ailt 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97. |
17 &18 Vic. c. 102. | An tAcht chun Cleachtanna Cuirpthe do Chosc, 1854. | Ailt 2, 3, 7, 8. |
35 &36 Vic. c. 33. | An tAcht Ballóide, 1872. | Cuid III. |
46 &47 Vic. c. 51. | An tAcht chun Cleachtanna Cuirpthe agus Nea-dhleathacha do Chosc, 1883. | Ailt 1 go 39 sa mhéid ná fuilid athghairmthe. Alt 61. Sceidil 1 &2. |
48 &49 Vic. c. 56. | An tAcht um Chleachtanna Cuirpthe i dToghacháin Pháirliminteacha, 1885. | An tAcht go léir. |
58 &59 Vic. c. 40. | An tAcht chun Cleachtanna Cuirpthe agus Nea-dhleathacha do Chosc, 1895. | An tAcht go léir. |
8 Geo. V. c. 64. | Acht Ionadaíocht na nDaoine, 1918. | An tAcht go léir sa mhéid ná fuil sé athghairmthe. |
Nóta.—An ath-ghairm a dintar leis an Acht so ar na hachtacháin sin thuas ní dochar í do chur na n-achtachán san i mbaint le Toghacháin Rialtais Áitiúla.
Number 38.
THE PREVENTION OF ELECTORAL ABUSES ACT, 1923.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Corrupt Practices.
Section | |
Illegal Practices.
Voting when, disqualified or more than once to be illegal practice. | |
Certain false statements concerning a candidate to be illegal practice. | |
Prevention of Personation.
Excuses and Exceptions for Corrupt Practices, Etc.
Report exonerating candidate in certain cases of corrupt and illegal practice by agents. | |
Power of High Court and election court to except innocent act from being illegal practice, etc. |
Dail Election Expenses.
Period for sending in claims and making payments for election expenses. | |
Election Agents at Seanad Elections.
Disqualification of Electors.
List in register of electors of persons incapacitated for voting by corrupt or illegal practices. |
Miscellaneous.
Election expenses.
Repeals.
Act Referred to | |
No. 12 of 1923 | |
Number 38.
THE PREVENTION OF ELECTORAL ABUSES ACT, 1923.
PART I.
Corrupt Practices.
Definition of corrupt practice.
1.—(1) The expression “corrupt practices” as used in this Act means any of the offences stated in this section to be a corrupt practice, and any person who commits any of such offences shall be guilty of a corrupt practice.
(2) The following offences as more fully defined in the following sections of this Part of this Act shall be corrupt practices, that is to say:—
(a) bribery,
(b) personation,
(c) treating,
(d) undue influence.
(3) The following offences shall also be corrupt practices, that is to say:—
(a) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of the offence of personation;
(b) knowingly publishing, before or during a Dáil or Seanad election, a false statement of the withdrawal of a candidate at such election.
Definition of bribery.
2.—The following persons shall be deemed guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable accordingly:—
(1) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise, or promise to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration or any office, place or employment, to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter or to or for any other person, in order to induce any voter to vote, or to vote in a particular way or to refrain from voting, or shall corruptly do any such act as aforesaid, on account of such voter having voted or voted in a particular way or refrained from voting at any election;
(2) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf make any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement as aforesaid, to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the return of any person to serve in the Oireachtas, or the vote of any voter at any election;
(3) Every person who shall, upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, procure or engage, promise, or endeavour to procure the return of any person to serve in the Oireachtas, or the vote of any voter at any election;
(4) Every person who shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person with the intent that such money or any part thereof shall be expended in bribery at any election, or who shall knowingly pay or cause to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any election;
(5) Every voter who shall, before or during any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree, or contract for any money, gift, loan, or valuable consideration, office, place or employment, for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote in a particular way or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, or from voting in a particular way, at any election;
(6) Every person who shall, after any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having induced any other person to vote or to refrain from voting, at any election;
(7) Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, corruptly induce or procure any person to withdraw from being a candidate at a Dáil or a Seanad election in consideration of any gift, loan, payment, office, place or employment or of any promise of any gift, loan, payment, office, place or employment;
(8) Every person who shall withdraw from being a candidate at a Dáil or a Seanad election in pursuance of any such inducement or procurement as aforesaid:
Provided always that this section shall not extend or be construed to extend to any money paid or agreed to be paid for or on account of any legal expenses bonâ fide incurred at or concerning any election.
Definition of personation.
3.—Every person who at an election applies for a ballot paper in the name of some other person, whether that name be the name of a living person or of a dead person or of a fictitious person, or who having voted once at an election applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name, shall be guilty of the offence of personation.
Definition of treating.
4.—(1) Any person who corruptly by himself or by any other person, either before, during, or after an election, directly or indirectly gives or provides, or pays wholly or in part the expenses of giving or providing, any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person, for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at the election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting, or being about to vote or refrain from voting at such election, shall be guilty of treating.
(2) Every elector who corruptly accepts or takes any such meat, drink, entertainment or provision as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section shall also be guilty of treating.
Definition of undue influence.
5.—Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, make use of or threaten to make use of any force, violence, or restraint, or inflict or threaten to inflict, by himself or by any other person, any temporal or spiritual injury, damage, harm, or loss upon or against any person in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting at any election or to withdraw from being a candidate at any election or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting or having been or withdrawn from being a candidate at any election, or who shall by abduction, duress, or any fraudulent device or contrivance impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise by any elector, or compel, induce, or prevail upon any elector either to give or to refrain from giving his vote at any election, or who shall by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance impede or prevent any person from being a candidate at an election, or compel, induce or prevail upon any person to withdraw from being a candidate at an election, shall be guilty of undue influence.
Penalties for corrupt practices.
6.—(1) A person who commits any corrupt practice other than personation, or aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring the commission of the offence of personation, shall on summary conviction be liable to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding one year.
(2) A person who commits the offence of personation, or of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of that offence shall—
(a) in the case of a first offence be liable, on summary conviction, to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for a term of not less than two months nor more than twelve months, and to be fined a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds;
(b) in the case of a second or any subsequent offence be liable, on summary conviction to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for a term of not less than six months and not more than twelve months and to be fined a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, or on conviction on indictment to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for a term of not less than six months nor more than twelve months or to be sent to penal servitude for a term of three years, and in either case to be fined a sum of not exceeding two hundred pounds.
(3) A person who is convicted of any corrupt practice shall (in addition to the punishments mentioned in the foregoing sub-sections) be incapable during a period of seven years from the date of his conviction—
(a) of being registered as a Dáil, Seanad or Local Government elector; or
(b) of voting at a Dáil, Seanad or Local Government election or at a Referendum; or
(c) of voting at an election for any public office; or
(d) of holding any public or judicial office; and if any such person at the date of his conviction holds any public or judicial office, such office shall thereupon be vacated.
(4) A person who is convicted of any corrupt practice shall (in addition to the punishments and incapacities mentioned in the foregoing sub-sections) be incapable during a period of seven years from the date of his conviction of being a member of or elected to Dáil Eireann or Seanad Eireann or any local authority and if at the date of such conviction such person is a member of or has been elected to Dáil Eireann or Seanad Eireann or any Local Authority he shall as from such date cease to be a member thereof and his election thereto shall as from such date be void.
(5) In this section the expression “public office” means membership of any local authority, and the expression “judicial office” means the office of every judge who is required by Article 68 of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann to be appointed by the Representative of the Crown on the advice of the Executive Council.
Disqualification of candidate guilty of corrupt practices.
7.—(1) Whenever an election court reports that any corrupt practice has been proved to have been committed in reference to any election to either House of the Oireachtas by or with the knowledge and consent of any candidate at such election, such candidate shall for ever be incapable of being elected to or being a member of the Oireachtas, and if he has been elected to either House of the Oireachtas, his election shall be void, and he shall also be subject to the same incapacities as if at the date of the report he had been convicted of a corrupt practice.
(2) Whenever an election court reports that any corrupt practice has been proved to have been committed in reference to an election to either House of the Oireachtas by any agent of a candidate at such election, such candidate shall, during a period of seven years from the date of the report, be incapable of being elected to or being a member of the Oireachtas and, if he has been elected to either House of the Oireachtas, his election shall be void.
PART II.
Illegal Practices.
Excessive employment or payment to be illegal practice.
8.—(1) Subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance, of this Act, no person shall be employed by a candidate at an election, or by his agent, in any capacity in relation to the conduct or management of such election in excess of the maximum number of persons authorized by this Act to be employed in that capacity.
(2) Subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act no sum shall be paid by a candidate at an election or by his agent for any purpose in relation to the conduct or management of such election in excess of the maximum amount authorized by this Act to be paid for that purpose.
(3) Any candidate or election agent who knowingly acts in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
Voting by prohibited persons to be illegal.
9.—(1) Any person who votes or induces or procures any person to vote at any election knowing that he or such person is prohibited, whether by this or any other Act, from voting at such election, shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(2) Provided that a candidate shall not be liable, nor shall his election be avoided for any illegal practice under this section committed by his agent other than his election agent.
Voting when disqualified or more than once to be illegal practice.
10.—(1) Every person who votes at an election while he is, by or under this or any other Act, declared to be incapable of voting at that election, shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(2) Every person who votes more than once at an election (whether in the same or in different constituencies) shall, notwithstanding the fact that the name of such person appears on the register of electors, be guilty of an illegal practice.
(3) The Court before which a person is convicted under this section of having voted more than once at an election may, if it is satisfied that the second question prescribed by sub-section (1) of section 29 of the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923) was not asked of such person on the second or any subsequent occasion on which he so voted, and the Court thinks it just in the special circumstances of the case so to do, mitigate or entirely remit any incapacity imposed by this Act by reason of such conviction.
Certain false statements concerning a candidate to be illegal practice.
11.—(1) Every person who, before or during any election and for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate at that election, makes or publishes any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of such candidate, and the directors of any body or association corporate which before or during any election and for the purpose aforesaid makes or publishes any such false statement as aforesaid, shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(2) No person shall be guilty of an illegal practice under this section if he shows that he had reasonable grounds for believing, and did believe, the statement made or published by him to be true.
(3) A candidate shall not be liable nor shall his election be avoided for any illegal practice under this section committed by his agent other than his election agent, unless it is shown that the candidate or his election agent authorised or consented to the committing of such illegal practice by such other agent, or paid for the circulation of the false statement constituting the illegal practice, or unless an election court reports that it was proved that the election of such candidate was procured or materially assisted in consequence of the making or publishing of such false statement.
(4) Any person charged with an offence under this section, and the husband or wife of such person, as the case may be, shall be competent to give evidence in answer to such charge.
(5) Any person who shall make or publish any such false statement as is mentioned in this section may be restrained by injunction from any repetition of such false statement or any false statement of a similar character in relation to such candidate, and for the purpose of granting an interim injunction prima facie proof of the falsity of the statement shall be sufficient.
Disorderly conduct at a meeting to be illegal practice.
12.—(1) Every person who at a meeting to which this section applies acts in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting was called together shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(2) Every person who incites others to commit an offence under this section shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(3) This section applies to all lawful public political meetings held in a constituency either—
(a) between the date of the issue of a writ for the election of a member or members of Dáil Eireann for that constituency and the day after the day on which such election is held; or
(b) between the date of a proclamation appointing the day on which a Seanad election is to be held and the day after the day on which such election is held; or
(c) between the date of a proclamation appointing the day on which a Referendum is to be taken and the day after the day on which such Referendum is taken.
Name and address of printer to be on all placards, etc.
13.—Every bill, placard, or poster having reference to an election shall bear upon the face thereof the name and address of the printer and publisher thereof; and any person printing, publishing, or posting, or causing to be printed, published, or posted, any such bill, placard, or poster as aforesaid, which fails to bear upon the face thereof the name and address of the printer and publisher, shall, if he is a candidate, or the election agent of a candidate, be guilty of an illegal practice, and shall, if he is not a candidate, or the election agent of a candidate, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
Expenses incurred by unauthorised persons.
14.—(1) A person other than the election agent of a candidate shall not incur any expenses on account of holding public meetings or issuing advertisements, circulars or publications for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of any candidate at an election, unless he is authorised in writing to do so by such election agent.
(2) Every person who acts in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(3) Any expenses incurred on account of any such purpose as aforesaid and authorised by the election agent of the candidate shall be duly returned as part of the candidate's election expenses.
Punishment on conviction of illegal practice.
15.—Every person guilty of an illegal practice, whether under any of the foregoing sections or any of the provisions hereinafter contained in this Act, shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds and shall, during a period of five years from the date of his conviction, be incapable of being registered as a Dáil, Seanad or Local Government elector, or of voting at any Dáil, Seanad or Local Government election or at a Referendum.
Disqualification of candidate guilty of illegal practice.
16.—(1) Whenever an election court reports that any illegal practice has been proved to have been committed in reference to an election to either House of the Oireachtas by or with the knowledge and consent of any candidate at such election, such candidate shall during a period of seven years from the date of the report, be incapable of being elected to or being a member of the Oireachtas, and if he has been elected to either House of the Oireachtas his election shall be void, and he shall also be subject to the same incapacities as if at the date of the report he had been convicted of an illegal practice.
(2) Whenever an election court reports that any illegal practice has been proved to have been committed in reference to an election to either House of the Oireachtas by any agent of a candidate at such election, that candidate shall be incapable of being elected to or being a member of Dáil Eireann during the continuance of that Oireachtas and shall be incapable of being elected to or being a member of Seanad Eireann before the next triennial elections thereto and if he has been elected his election shall be void.
Certain expenditure to be illegal payment.
17.—Every person who knowingly provides money for any payment which is contrary to the provisions of this Act, or for any expenses incurred in excess of any maximum amount allowed by this Act, or for replacing any money expended in any such payment or expenses shall be guilty of illegal payment, unless such payment is allowed in pursuance of this Act to be an exception.
Certain employment to be illegal.
18.—(1) No person shall, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election, be engaged or employed for payment or promise of payment for any purpose or in any capacity whatever, except for any purposes or capacities mentioned in the first or second parts of the First Schedule to this Act, or except so far as payment is authorised by the first or second parts of the First Schedule to this Act.
(2) Subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act, if any person is engaged or employed in contravention of this section, either before, during, or after an election the person engaging or employing him shall be guilty of illegal employment, and the person so engaged or employed shall also be guilty of illegal employment if he knew that he was engaged or employed contrary to law.
Certain premises not to be used for committee room.
19.—(1) No premises to which this section applies nor any part of any such premises shall be used as a committee room for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election.
(2) Every person who hires or uses any premises to which this section applies or any part of any such premises for such committee room as aforesaid shall be guilty of an illegal hiring and the person letting such premises or part thereof if he knew that it was intended to use the same as such committee room shall also be guilty of an illegal hiring.
(3) This section applies to the following premises, that is to say:—
(a) any premises on which the sale by wholesale or retail of any intoxicating liquor is authorised by a licence (whether the licence be for consumption on or off the premises); or
(b) any premises where any intoxicating liquor is sold, or is supplied to members of a club, society or association other than a permanent political club; or
(c) any premises whereon refreshment of any kind, whether food or drink, is ordinarily sold for consumption on the premises; or
(d) the premises of any public elementary school in receipt of an annual parliamentary grant, or any part of any such premises.
(4) This section does not apply to any part of any such premises as aforesaid which is ordinarily let for the purpose of chambers or offices or the holding of public meetings or of arbitrations, if such part has a separate entrance and no direct communication with any part of the premises on which any intoxicating liquor or refreshment is sold or supplied as aforesaid.
Punishment of illegal payment, employment or hiring.
20.—(1) A person guilty of an offence of illegal payment, employment, or hiring shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
(2) A candidate or an election agent of a candidate who is personally guilty of an offence of illegal payment, employment, or hiring shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
Saving for creditors.
21.—The provisions of this Act prohibiting certain payments and contracts for payments, and the payment of any sum, and the incurring of any expense in excess of a certain maximum, shall not affect the right of any creditor, who, when the contract was made or the expense was incurred, was ignorant of the same being in contravention of this Act.
PART III.
Prevention of Personation.
Dáil candidate may appoint personation agents.
22.—(1) Each candidate at a Dáil election in any constituency or the agent of such candidate may appoint one person (in this Act called a personation agent) to attend on behalf of such candidate at each polling station in each polling place in the constituency for the purpose of assisting in the detection of persons committing or attempting to commit the offence of personation.
(2) Each candidate or his agent shall, not less than twelve hours before the commencement of the poll, furnish to the returning officer in writing the names of all personation agents appointed under this section by him or on his behalf together with the name of the polling station to which each personation agent is allotted.
(3) Every personation agent duly appointed under this section and of whose appointment notice is duly given as aforesaid shall be entitled to attend in the polling station to which he is allotted during the whole time of the poll and during half an hour before and half an hour after that time.
(4) No personation agent shall while the poll remains open leave the polling station to which he is allotted without previously obtaining the permission of the presiding officer and depositing with the presiding officer all registers, books and documents in which he has made any note, writing or mark during the poll, which registers, books and documents shall be returned to him on his return to the polling station.
(5) Any personation agent who leaves a polling station in contravention of the foregoing sub-section shall not be permitted to return to such polling station until after the close of the poll, and shall in addition to any other penalty be guilty of an offence under this Act and be liable on summary conviction to a punishment not exceeding three months' imprisonment with or without hard labour.
Appointment of Sponsor and Challenger at a referendum.
23.—(1) Whenever a referendum is demanded under Article 47 of the Constitution—
(a) Dáil Eireann may appoint a person to be Sponsor of the Bill; and
(b) If the referendum is demanded by a Resolution of Seanad Eireann, Seanad Eireann may appoint a person to be Challenger of the Bill; and
(c) if the referendum is demanded by a Petition the members of Dáil Eireann or the members of Seanad Eireann upon whose demand the Bill was suspended in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution may appoint a person to be Challenger of the Bill.
(2) The Sponsor and the Challenger shall each have the like power of appointing an agent in each constituency in Saorstát Eireann as is conferred by this Act or the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923) on a candidate at a Dáil election in such constituency, and every provision of this Act or the Electoral Act, 1923, relating to the appointment of an agent by a candidate at a Dáil election shall apply to the appointment of agents by a Sponsor or a Challenger.
(3) Every agent appointed by a Sponsor or a Challenger shall have within the constituency for which he is appointed agent, the like powers of appointing sub-agents, personation agents and persons to be present at the counting of the votes as are conferred in that behalf by this Act or the Electoral Act, 1923, on a candidate or the agent of a candidate at a Dáil election in that constituency, and every provision of this Act or the Electoral Act, 1923, in relation to the appointment of such sub-agents, personation agents and other persons by any such candidate or his agent and the rights, powers and duties of such persons when so appointed shall apply to such persons when appointed by the agent of a Sponsor or Challenger.
(4) In this section the word “Bill” means the Bill which is the subject of the referendum.
Personation agents at Seanad elections.
24.—(1) At a Seanad election, the returning officer in each constituency shall fix the number of persons (not being less than six) who may be present on behalf of the candidates at the counting of the votes in the constituency so far as such counting is done by such returning officer.
(2) Each candidate at a Seanad election or any group of such candidates may appoint a person to be present on his or their behalf at the counting of the votes in each constituency.
(3) When the number of persons appointed under this section to be present at the counting of the votes exceeds the number fixed for that counting by the returning officer, the returning officer shall admit to such counting—
(a) every (if any) person who is appointed by a group of candidates not less in number than the number of candidates desiring to appoint persons for such counting, divided by the number of persons fixed by the returning officer for such counting; and
(b) such number of persons selected by lot from the other persons appointed under this section as shall be sufficient to make up the number fixed by the returning officer for that counting.
(4) Every enactment for the time being in force in relation to the appointment by a candidate or the agent of a candidate at a Dáil election of persons to be present at the counting of the votes on behalf of such candidate shall, so far as such enactments are not inconsistent with this section, apply to the appointment under this section of such persons by candidates at a Seanad election.
Arrest of persons committing personation.
25.—(1) If at the time any person tenders his vote at an election or at any time after he has voted and before he leaves the polling place any personation agent lawfully present in such polling place declares to the returning officer or a presiding officer that he verily believes and undertakes to prove that such person is committing or has committed the offence of personation, the returning officer or such presiding officer shall direct a police constable to arrest such person on the charge of having committed the offence of personation.
(2) If the returning officer or any presiding officer has reasonable ground for believing that any person who applies or has applied for a ballot paper is committing or has committed the offence of personation, such returning officer or presiding officer may, before such person leaves the polling place, direct a police constable to arrest such person on the charge of having committed the offence of personation.
(3) Any police constable shall, without any warrant, arrest on the charge of having committed the offence of personation, every person whom such police constable is directed by the returning officer or a presiding officer to arrest on such charge.
(4) Any police constable may, without any warrant, arrest any person who is found by such police constable committing the offence of personation or who is believed by such police constable to have committed such offence.
(5) Every person arrested under this section shall, as soon as may be after his arrest, be brought before a District Justice and dealt with according to law, and may be detained in custody until he can be so brought before a District Justice.
(6) Any arrest authorised by this section may be made at any place, whether in or out of a polling place.
Penalty for making false charge of personation.
26.—(1) Whenever any person is arrested under this Act in consequence of a charge made by a personation agent that such person had committed the offence of personation, and either such personation agent fails to appear before the District Justice and support such charge, or the District Justice acquits such person of having committed the offence and finds that the charge was made by the personation agent without reasonable or sufficient cause, the District Justice may, at the request of the person so charged but not otherwise, order the personation agent to pay to such person such sum not exceeding £20 as the District Justice shall think proper by way of damages, and such sum when duly paid shall be accepted by the person so charged in full satisfaction of all claims by him in respect of the said charge and his arrest and detention thereon.
(2) No action or other proceeding, civil or criminal, shall lie against any returning officer or presiding officer in respect of the arrest by his direction without malice of any person on a charge of having committed the offence of personation.
PART IV.
Excuses and Exceptions for Corrupt Practices, etc.
Report exonerating candidate in certain cases of corrupt and illegal practice by agents.
27.—Whenever an election court reports that a candidate has been guilty by his agents of the offence of treating and undue influence and illegal practice or of any of such offences and further that the candidate has proved to the court—
(a) that no corrupt or illegal practice was committed at such election by the candidate or his election agent and that the offences mentioned in the said report were committed contrary to the orders and without the sanction or connivance of such candidate or his election agent; and
(b) that such candidate and his election agent took all reasonable means for preventing the commission of corrupt and illegal practices at such election; and
(c) that the offences mentioned in the said report were of a trivial, unimportant, and limited character; and
(d) that in all other respects the election was free from any corrupt or illegal practice on the part of such candidate and of his agents;
the election of such candidate shall not, by reason of the offences mentioned in such report, be void, nor shall the candidate be subject to any incapacity under this Act.
Power of High Court and election court to except innocent act from being illegal practice, etc.
28.—Where, on application made, it is shown to the High Court or to an election court by such evidence as seems to the Court sufficient—
(a) that any act or omission of a candidate at any election, or of his election agent or of any other agent or person, would, by reason of being a payment, engagement, employment, or contract in contravention of this Act, or being the payment of a sum or the incurring of expense in excess of any maximum amount allowed by this Act, or of otherwise being in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, be but for this section an illegal practice, payment, employment, or hiring; and
(b) that such act or omission arose from inadvertence or from accidental miscalculation or from some other reasonable cause of a like nature, and in any case did not arise from any want of good faith; and
(c) that such notice of the application has been given in the constituency for which the election was held as to the court seems fit;
and in the circumstances it seems to the Court to be just that the candidate and the said election and other agent and person, or any of them, should not be subject to any of the consequences under this Act of the said act or omission, the Court may make an order allowing such act or omission to be an exception from the provisions of this Act which would otherwise make the same an illegal practice, payment, employment, or hiring, and thereupon such candidate, agent, or person shall not be subject to any of the consequences under this Act of the said act or omission.
PART V.
Dail Election Expenses.
Nomination of election agent.
29.—(1) On or before the last day for receiving nominations at a Dáil election, a person shall be named by or on behalf of each candidate as his agent for such election (in this Act referred to as the election agent).
(2) A candidate may name himself as election agent, and thereupon shall, so far as circumstances admit be subject to the provisions of this Act both as a candidate and as an election agent, and any reference in this Act to an election agent shall be construed to refer to the candidate acting in his capacity of election agent.
(3) On or before the last day for receiving nominations the name and address of the election agent of each candidate shall be declared in writing by the candidate or some other person on his behalf to the returning officer, and the returning officer shall forthwith give public notice of the name and address of every election agent so declared.
(4) One election agent only shall be appointed for each candidate, but the appointment, whether the election agent appointed be the candidate himself or not, may be revoked, and in the event of such revocation or his death, whether such event is before, during, or after the election, then forthwith another election agent shall be appointed, and his name and address declared in writing to the returning officer, who shall forthwith give public notice of the same.
Nomination of deputy election agent as sub-agent.
30.—(1) In the case of the Dáil elections specified in that behalf in the First Schedule to this Act an election agent of a candidate may appoint the number of deputy agents therein mentioned (which deputy agents are in this Act referred to as sub-agents), to act within different polling districts.
(2) As regards matters in a polling district the election agent may act by the sub-agent for that district, and anything done for the purposes of this Act by or to the sub-agent in his district shall be deemed to be done by or to the election agent, and any act or default of a sub-agent which, if he were the election agent, would be an illegal practice or other offence against this Act, shall be an illegal practice and offence against this Act committed by the sub-agent, and the sub-agent shall be liable to punishment accordingly; and the candidate shall suffer the like incapacity as if the said act or default had been the act or default of the election agent.
(3) One clear day before the day fixed for taking the poll the election agent shall declare in writing the name and address of every sub-agent to the returning officer, and the returning officer shall forthwith give public notice of the name and address of every sub-agent so declared.
(4) The appointment of a sub-agent shall not be vacated by the election agent who appointed him ceasing to be election agent, but may be revoked by the election agent for the time being of the candidate, and in the event of such revocation or of the death of a sub-agent another sub-agent may be appointed, and his name and address shall be forthwith declared in writing to the returning officer, who shall forthwith give public notice of the same.
Office of election agent and sub-agent.
31.—(1) An election agent at a Dáil election shall have within the constituency, or within any county of a city or town adjoining thereto, or, in the case of a university constituency, in the city in which the university is situate, and a sub-agent shall have within his district, or within any county of a city or town adjoining thereto, an office or place to which all claims, notices, writs, summons, and documents may be sent, and the address of such office or place shall be declared at the same time as the appointment of the said agent to the returning officer, and shall be stated in the public notice of the name of the agent.
(2) Any claim, notice, writ, summons, or document delivered at such office or place and addressed to the election agent or sub-agent, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been served on him, and every such agent may in respect of any matter connected with the election in which he is acting be sued in any court having jurisdiction in the city, town or county in which the said office or place is situate.
Making of contracts through election agent.
32.—(1) The election agent of a candidate by himself or by his sub-agent shall appoint every personation agent, clerk, and messenger employed for payment on behalf of the candidate at an election, and hire every committee room hired on behalf of the candidate.
(2) A contract whereby any expenses are incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of an election shall not be enforceable against a candidate at such election unless made by the candidate himself or by his election agent, either by himself or by his sub-agent: Provided that the inability under this section to enforce such contract against the candidate shall not relieve the candidate from the consequences of any corrupt or illegal practice having been committed by his agent.
Payment of expenses through election agent.
33.—(1) Except as permitted by or in pursuance of this Act, no payment and no advance or deposit shall be made by a candidate at a Dáil election or by any agent on behalf of the candidate, in respect of any expenses incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of such election, otherwise than by or through the election agent of the candidate, whether acting in person or by a sub-agent; and all money provided by any person other than the candidate for any expenses incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of the election, whether as gift, loan, advance, or deposit, shall be paid to the candidate or his election agent and not otherwise:
Provided that this section shall not be deemed to apply to a deposit pursuant to Section 20 of the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923) or to any sum disbursed by any person out of his own money for any small expense legally incurred by himself, if such sum is not repaid by him.
(2) A person who makes any payment, advance, or deposit in contravention of this section, or pays in contravention of this section any money so provided as aforesaid, shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
Period for sending in claims and making payments for election expenses.
34.—(1) Every payment made by an election agent, whether by himself or a sub-agent, in respect of any expenses incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of a Dáil election, shall, except where less than forty shillings, be vouched for by a bill stating the particulars and by a receipt.
(2) Every claim against a candidate at a Dáil election or his election agent in respect of any expenses incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of such election which is not sent in to the election agent within the time limited by this Act shall be barred and shall not be paid; and, subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act, an election agent who pays a claim in contravention of this enactment shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(3) Except as by this Act permitted, the time limited by this Act for sending in claims shall be fourteen days after the day on which the candidates returned are declared elected.
(4) All expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at a Dáil election, which are incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of such election, shall be paid within the time limited by this Act and not otherwise; and, subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act, an election agent who makes a payment in contravention of this provision shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(5) Except as by this Act permitted, the time limited by this Act for the payment of such expenses as aforesaid shall be twenty-eight days after the day on which the candidate or candidates returned is or are declared elected.
(6) Where the election court reports that it has been proved to such court by a candidate that any payment made by an election agent in contravention of this section was made without the sanction or connivance of such candidate, the election of such candidate shall not be void, nor shall he be subject to any incapacity under this Act by reason only of such payment having been made in contravention of this section.
(7) If the election agent in the case of any claim sent in to him within the time limited by this Act disputes it, or refuses or fails to pay it within the said period of twenty-eight days, such claim shall be deemed to be a disputed claim.
(8) The claimant may, if he thinks fit, bring an action for a disputed claim in any competent court; and any sum paid by the candidate or his agent in pursuance of the judgment or order of such court shall be deemed to be paid within the time limited by this Act, and to be an exception from the provisions of this Act, requiring claims to be paid by the election agent.
(9) On cause shown to the satisfaction of the High Court, such court on application by the claimant or by the candidate or his election agent may by order give leave for the payment by a candidate or his election agent of a disputed claim, or of a claim for any such expenses as aforesaid, although sent in after the time in this section mentioned for sending in claims, or although the same was sent in to the candidate and not to the election agent.
(10) Any sum specified in the order of leave may be paid by the candidate or his election agent, and when paid in pursuance of such leave shall be deemed to be paid within the time limited by this Act.
Reference to taxation of claim against candidates.
35.—If any action is brought in any competent court to recover a disputed claim against a candidate at a Dáil election, or his election agent, in respect of any expenses incurred on account or in respect of the conduct or management of such election, and the defendant admits his liability, but disputes the amount of the claim, the said amount shall, unless the court, on the application of the plaintiff in the action, otherwise directs, be forthwith referred for taxation to the master, official referee, registrar, or other proper officer of the court, and the amount found due on such taxation shall be the amount to be recovered in such action in respect of such claim.
Personal expenses of candidate and petty expenses.
36.—(1) The candidate at a Dáil election may pay any personal expenses incurred by him on account of or in connection with or incidental to such election to an amount not exceeding one hundred pounds, but any further personal expenses so incurred by him shall be paid by his election agent.
(2) The candidate shall send to the election agent within the time limited by this Act for sending in claims a written statement of the amount of personal expenses paid as aforesaid by such candidate.
(3) Any person may, if so authorised in writing by the election agent of the candidate, pay any necessary expenses for stationery, postage, telegrams, and other petty expenses, to a total amount not exceeding that named in the authority, but any excess above the total amount so named shall be paid by the election agent.
(4) A statement of the particulars of payment made by any person so authorised shall be sent to the election agent within the time limited by this Act for the sending in of claims, and shall be vouched for by a bill containing the receipt of that person.
Remuneration of election agent.
37.—So far as circumstances admit, this Act shall apply to a claim for his remuneration by an election agent and to the payment thereof in like manner as if he were any other creditor, and if any difference arises respecting the amount of such claim, the claim shall be a disputed claim within the meaning of this Act, and be dealt with accordingly.
Return and declaration respecting election expenses.
38.—(1) Within thirty-five days after the day on which the candidate or candidates returned at a Dáil election is or are declared elected, the election agent of every candidate at that election shall transmit to the returning officer a true return (in this Act referred to as a return respecting election expenses), in the prescribed form, containing, as respects that candidate—
(a) a statement of all payments made by the election agent, together with all the bills and receipts (which bills and receipts are in this Act included in the expression “return respecting election expenses”);
(b) a statement of the amount of personal expenses, if any, paid by the candidate;
(c) a statement of all other disputed claims of which the election agent is aware;
(d) a statement of all the unpaid claims, if any, of which the election agent is aware, in respect of which application has been or is about to be made to the High Court;
(e) a statement of all money, securities, and equivalent of money received by the election agent from the candidate or any other person for the purpose of expenses incurred or to be incurred on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of the election, with a statement of the name of every person from whom the same may have been received.
(2) The return so transmitted to the returning officer shall be accompanied by a declaration made by the election agent before a District Justice or a Peace Commissioner in the prescribed form (which declaration is in this Act referred to as a declaration respecting election expenses).
(3) Where the candidate has named himself as his election agent, a statement of all money, securities, and equivalent of money paid by the candidate shall be substituted in the return required by this section to be transmitted by the election agent for the like statement of money, securities, and equivalent of money received by the election agent from the candidate; and the declaration by an election agent respecting election expenses need not be made, and the declaration by the candidate respecting election expenses shall be modified in the prescribed manner.
(4) At the same time that the agent transmits the said return, or within seven days afterwards, the candidate shall transmit or cause to be transmitted to the returning officer a declaration made by him before a District Justice or Peace Commissioner in the prescribed form (which declaration is in this Act referred to as a declaration respecting election expenses).
(5) If in the case of a Dáil election for any constituency the said return and declarations are not transmitted before the expiration of the time limited for the purpose, the candidate shall not, after the expiration of such time, sit or vote in the Dáil as member for that constituency until either such return and declarations have been transmitted, or until the date of the allowance of such an authorised excuse for the failure to transmit the same, as in this Act mentioned, and if he sits or votes in contravention of this enactment he shall forfeit on prosecution at the suit of the Attorney-General one hundred pounds for every day on which he so sits or votes.
(6) If without such authorised excuse as in this Act mentioned, a candidate or an election agent fails to comply with the requirements of this section he shall be guilty of an illegal practice.
(7) If any candidate or election agent knowingly makes the declaration required by this section falsely, he shall be guilty of an offence, and on conviction thereof on indictment shall be liable to the punishment for wilful and corrupt perjury; such offence shall also be deemed to be a corrupt practice within the meaning of this Act.
(8) Where the candidate is out of Saorstát Eireann at the time when the return is so transmitted to the returning officer, the declaration required by this section may be made by him within fourteen days after his return to Saorstát Eireann, and in that case shall be forthwith transmitted to the returning officer, but the delay hereby authorised in making such declaration shall not exonerate the election agent from complying with the provisions of this Act as to the return and declaration respecting election expenses.
(9) Where, after the date at which the return respecting election expenses is transmitted, leave is given by the High Court for any claims to be paid, the candidate or his election agent shall, within seven days after the payment thereof, transmit to the returning officer a return of the sums paid in pursuance of such leave accompanied by a copy of the order of the court giving the leave, and in default he shall be deemed to have failed to comply with the requirements of this section without such authorised excuse as in this Act mentioned.
Authorised excuse for non-compliance with provisions as to return and declaration respecting election expenses.
39.—(1) Where the return and declarations respecting election expenses of a candidate at a Dáil election for any constituency have not been transmitted as required by this Act, or being transmitted contain some error or false statement, then—
(a) if the candidate applies to the High Court or an election court and shows that the failure to transmit such return and declarations, or any of them, or any part thereof, or any error or false statement therein, has arisen by reason of his illness, or of the absence, death, illness, or misconduct of his election agent or sub-agent or of any clerk or officer of such agent, or by reason of inadvertence or of any reasonable cause of a like nature, and not by reason of any want of good faith on the part of the applicant; or
(b) if the election agent of the candidate applies to the High Court or an election court and shows that the failure to transmit the return and declarations which he was required to transmit, or any error or false statement therein, arose by reason of his illness, or of the death or illness of any prior election agent of the candidate, or of the absence, death, illness, or misconduct of any sub-agent, clerk, or officer of an election agent of the candidate, or by reason of inadvertence or of any reasonable cause of a like nature, and not by reason of any want of good faith on the part of the applicant:
the court may, after such notice of the application in the said constituency, and on production of such evidence of the grounds stated in the application, and of the good faith of the application, and otherwise, as to the court seems fit, make such order for allowing an authorised excuse for the failure to transmit such return and declaration, or for an error or false statement in such return and declaration, as to the court seems just.
(2) Where it appears to the court that any person being or having been election agent or sub-agent has refused or failed to make such return or to supply such particulars as will enable the candidate and his election agent respectively to comply with the provisions of this Act as to the return and declaration respecting election expenses, the court before making an order allowing the excuse as in this section mentioned shall order such person to attend before the court, and on his attendance shall, unless he shows cause to the contrary, order him to make the return and declaration, or to deliver a statement of the particulars required to be contained in the return, as to the court seem just, and to make or deliver the same within such time and to such person and in such manner as the court may direct, or may order him to be examined with respect to such particulars, and may in default of compliance with any such order order him to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds.
(3) The order may make the allowance conditional upon the making of the return and declaration in a modified form or within an extended time, and upon the compliance with such other terms as to the court seem best calculated for carrying into effect the objects of this Act; and an order allowing an authorised excuse shall relieve the applicant for the order from any liability or consequences under this Act in respect of the matter excused by the order; and where it is proved by the candidate to the court that any act or omission of the election agent in relation to the return and declaration respecting election expenses was without the sanction or connivance of the candidate, and that the candidate took all reasonable means for preventing such act or omission, the court shall relieve the candidate from the consequences of such act or omission on the part of his election agent.
(4) The date of the order, or, if conditions and terms are to be complied with, the date at which the applicant fully complies with them, is referred to in this Act as the date of the allowance of the excuse.
Publication of summary of return of election expenses.
40.—(1) The returning officer at a Dáil election within ten days after he receives from the election agent of a candidate a return respecting election expenses shall publish in not less than two newspapers circulating in the constituency for which the election was held, a notice of the time and place at which the return and declarations (including the accompanying documents) can be inspected.
(2) The return and declarations (including the accompanying documents) sent to the returning officer by an election agent shall be kept at the office of the returning officer, or some convenient place appointed by him, and shall at all reasonable times during two years next after they are received by the returning officer be open to inspection by any person on payment of a fee of one shilling, and the returning officer shall on demand furnish copies thereof or any part thereof at the price of twopence for every seventy-two words. After the expiration of the said two years the returning officer may cause the said return and declarations (including the accompanying documents) to be destroyed, or, if the candidate or his election agent so require, shall return the same to the candidate.
PART VI.
Election Agents at Seanad Elections.
Appointment of election agent by Seanad candidate.
41.—(1) A candidate at a Seanad election shall have the like power of appointing an election agent as is conferred by this Act or the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), on a candidate at a Dáil election.
(2) Every provision of this Act or of the Electoral Act, 1923, in relation to the appointment of an agent by a candidate at a, Dáil election shall apply to the appointment of an agent by a candidate at a Seanad election with the modifications that—
(a) references in such provisions to the last day for receiving nominations shall be construed as references to the second day after the date of the proclamation appointing the day on which the Seanad election is to take place;
(b) the returning officer to whom notice of the appointment of an election agent by a candidate at a Seanad election and of the name, address and office of such agent are to be given shall be the Seanad Returning Officer;
(c) it shall not be necessary to give public notice of the appointment, name, address or office of an agent appointed by a candidate at a Seanad election.
Rights, duties and powers of Seanad election agents.
42.—(1) Every provision of this Act or of the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), in relation to the rights, powers and duties of an agent appointed by a candidate at a Dáil election shall, save as is otherwise provided by this Part of this Act, apply to an agent appointed by a candidate at a Seanad election.
(2) Nothing in this Act or in the Electoral Act, 1923, shall be deemed to authorize a candidate at a Seanad election or the agent of any such candidate to appoint a deputy agent, sub-agent or personation agent.
PART VII.
Disqualification of Electors.
List in register of electors of persons incapacitated for voting by corrupt or illegal practices.
43.—(1) The registration officer in every registration area shall annually make out a list containing the names and descriptions of all persons who, though entitled to be registered as Dáil or Seanad or Local Government electors in that registration area, are not capable of voting at an election by reason of having been found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice on conviction or by the report of an election court, and the registration officer shall state in such list (in this Act referred to as “The Corrupt and Illegal Practices List”) the offence of which each such person has been found guilty.
(2) For the purpose of making out such list the registration officer shall examine the report of any election court which has inquired into an election held in any constituency in Saorstát Eireann.
(3) The registration officer shall publish the corrupt and illegal practices list in the manner directed by the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), and shall send a copy of such list to every other registration officer in Saorstát Eireann.
(4) Any person whose name is entered in the corrupt and illegal practices list may claim to have his name omitted therefrom, and any person entitled to object to any name appearing on the electors' lists as appearing to be entitled to be registered in that registration area may object to the omission of the name of any person from such list, and all such claims and objections shall be sent in, served and dealt with within the like time and in the like manner in all respects as claims and objections to the electors lists in that registration area are to be sent in, served and dealt with under the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), and any decision on a claim or objection made under this sub-section shall be subject to the like appeal as a similar decision on a claim or objection to the electors list aforesaid would be subject to under the Act aforesaid.
(5) The entry on the electors lists of the name of a person who by reason of his having been found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice is not entitled to be registered or vote at an election shall not entitle such person to object to the registration of any other person.
PART VIII.
Miscellaneous.
Inquiry by Attorney-General into alleged corrupt or illegal practices.
44.—Where information is given to the Attorney-General of Saorstát Eireann that any corrupt or illegal practices have prevailed in reference to any election it shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to make such inquiries and institute such prosecutions as the circumstances of the case appear to him to require.
Removal of incapacity on proof that it was procured by perjury.
45.—Where a person has become subject to any incapacity by reason of a conviction or of a report of an election court, and any witness who gave evidence against such incapacitated person upon the proceeding for such conviction or report is convicted of perjury in respect of that evidence, the incapacitated person may apply to the High Court, and that court if satisfied that the conviction or report so far as respects such person was based upon perjury, may order that such incapacity shall thenceforth cease, and the same shall cease accordingly.
Penalty for injuring ballot boxes or ballot papers.
46.—(1) Any person who commits any of the following offences that is to say:—
(a) without lawful authority takes a ballot box out of the custody of a returning officer or of a presiding officer or of any person to whose care or custody a returning officer shall lawfully have entrusted such ballot box; or
(b) maliciously destroys, mutilates or injures any ballot box; or
(c) maliciously destroys, tears or defaces any ballot paper;
(d) counterfeits the official mark;
(e) removes, destroys or damages any instrument for stamping the official mark on ballot papers or makes or has in his possession any imitation or counterfeit of any such instrument;
shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding one year or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding two years or penal servitude for any period not less than three years nor more than five years.
(2) Every person who—
(a) forges or fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any nomination paper, or delivers to the returning officer any nomination paper, knowing the same to be forged; or
(b) forges or counterfeits any ballot paper or the official mark on any ballot paper; or
(c) without due authority supplies any ballot paper to any person; or
(d) fraudulently puts into any ballot box any paper other than the ballot paper which he is authorised by law to put in; or
(e) fraudulently takes out of the polling station any ballot paper; or
(f) without due authority opens, or otherwise interferes with any ballot box;
shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding one year or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding two years or penal servitude for any period not less than three years nor more than five years.
Penalties for certain offences relating to registration.
47.—(1) Every person who makes a false declaration for the purpose of a claim under Rules 9 and 10 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), to be registered as a Dáil or Seanad or Local Government elector, whether such claim is made by such person on his own behalf or on behalf of some other person, and whether such falsity consists of an untrue statement or the omission of a material fact, shall be liable on summary conviction at the prosecution of the registration officer to a fine of not less than £5 or not more than £20.
(2) Every person who wilfully destroys, mutilates, effaces or removes any notice, list, copy of register or other document made available for inspection, posted up or otherwise published by a registration officer pursuant to the rules contained in the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), shall be liable on summary conviction on the prosecution of the registration officer or police constable to a fine of not less than ten shillings nor more than forty shillings.
Candidate at Seanad election becoming disqualified during election.
48.—(1) If any candidate at a Seanad election becomes disqualified for being elected to Seanad Eireann at any time after the panel of candidates for that election has been formed and before the counting by the Seanad Returning Officer of the votes cast at that election has commenced, all the preferences recorded for that candidate shall be disregarded in the counting of the votes cast at that election.
(2) If any candidate at a Seanad election becomes disqualified for being elected to Seanad Eireann at any time after the commencement and before the completion of the counting by the Seanad Returning Officer of the votes cast at that election, due regard shall be had to the preferences recorded for that candidate, and if on such counting that candidate is found to be elected, one more candidate shall be returned as elected than there are vacancies to be filled.
Conditions on which employer may give leave of absence to employees to record their votes.
49.—Nothing in this Act shall make it illegal for an employer to permit electors in his employment to absent themselves from such employment for a reasonable time for the purpose of voting at an election, without having any deduction from their salaries or wages on account of such absence, if such permission is, so far as practicable without injury to the business of the employer, given equally to all persons alike who are at the time in his employment, and if such permission is not given with a view of inducing any person to record his vote for any particular candidate at such election, and is not refused to any person for the purpose of preventing such person from recording his vote for any particular candidate at such election.
Dáil candidates entitled to certain free postage.
50.—(1) Each candidate at a Dáil election shall, subject to regulations to be from time to time made by the Postmaster-General, be entitled to send, free of any charge for postage, to each person on the register of electors for the constituency, one postal communication containing matter relating to the election only and not exceeding two ounces in weight.
(2) A candidate shall not be entitled to exercise the right of free postage conferred by this section before he is duly nominated, unless he has given such security as may be required by the Postmaster-General for the payment of the postage on all communications sent by him under this section in case he does not eventually become nominated.
(3) For the purposes of this section, candidates who are, under the First Schedule to this Act, to be deemed to be joint candidates, shall be treated as a single candidate.
Election petitions in relation to Seanad elections.
51.—The enactments relating to the presentation and trial of election petitions in relation to Dáil elections shall apply to Seanad elections, with the following modifications, that is to say:—
(a) an election petition may relate to one constituency or to two or more constituencies;
(b) an election petition in respect of a Seanad election may be presented by any one candidate or by a group of two or more candidates.
Limitation of time for prosecution of offence.
52.—(1) A proceeding against a person in respect of the offence of a corrupt or illegal practice or any other offence under this Act shall be commenced within one year after the offence was committed, or if it was committed in reference to an election with respect to which proceedings are held before an election court, shall be commenced within one year after the offence was committed, or within three months after the report of such court is made, whichever period last expires, but so that it be commenced within two years after the offence was committed, and the time so limited by this section shall, in the case of any proceeding under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts for any such offence, whether before an election court or otherwise, be substituted for any limitation of time contained in the last-mentioned Acts.
(2) For the purposes of this section the issue of a summons, warrant, writ, or other process shall be deemed to be a commencement of a proceeding, where the service or execution of the same on or against the alleged offender is prevented by the absconding or concealment or act of the alleged offender, but save as aforesaid the service or execution of the same on or against the alleged offender, and not the issue thereof, shall be deemed to be the commencement of the proceeding.
Persons charged with corrupt practice may be found guilty of illegal practice.
53.—Any person charged with a corrupt practice may, if the circumstances warrant such finding, be found guilty of an illegal practice (which offence shall for that purpose be an indictable offence) and any person charged with an illegal practice may be found guilty of that offence, notwithstanding that the act constituting the offence amounted to a corrupt practice, and a person charged with illegal payment, employment, or hiring, may be found guilty of that offence, notwithstanding that the act constituting the offence amounted to a corrupt or illegal practice.
Prosecution on summary conviction, and appeal to quarter sessions.
54.—(1) All offences under this Act punishable on summary conviction may be prosecuted in manner provided by the Summary Jurisdiction Acts.
(2) A person aggrieved by a conviction by a court of summary jurisdiction for an offence under this Act may appeal to general or quarter sessions against such conviction.
Publication of notices.
55.—Any public notice required to be given by a returning officer under this Act shall be given in the manner in which he is directed by the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), to give a public notice under that Act.
Definitions.
56.—In this Act and the Schedules thereto unless the context otherwise requires—
The expression “Dáil Election” means an election of a member or members to serve in Dáil Eireann and includes a bye-election as well as a general election;
The expression “Dáil Elector” means a person entitled to vote at a Dáil election;
The expression “Seanad Election” means an election of Senators to serve in Seanad Eireann;
The expression “Seanad Elector” means a person entitled to vote at a Seanad election;
The word “Election” when used without qualification includes Dáil election, Seanad election and Referendum;
The expression “Election Court” means any court or tribunal constituted under any Act of the Oireachtas and having jurisdiction to inquire into, hear, determine or report upon allegations, charges, disputes or differences in respect of elections generally or any particular election or class of elections;
The expression “Summary Jurisdiction Acts” means the several Acts for the time being in force in Saorstát Eireann relating to courts of summary jurisdiction;
The expression “committee room” does not include any house or room occupied by a candidate at an election as a dwelling by reason only of the candidate there transacting business with his agents in relation to such election; nor shall any room or building be deemed to be a committee room for the purposes of this Act by reason only of the candidate or any agent of the candidate addressing therein electors, committeemen, or others;
The expression “personal expenses” as used with respect to the expenditure of any candidate in relation to any election includes the reasonable travelling expenses of such candidate and the reasonable expenses of his living at hotels or elsewhere for the purposes of and in relation to such election;
The expression “Local Authority” includes a county, county or other borough, urban district, or rural district council, a board of guardians, the town commissioners of any town, and any other public body which may be established by any County Scheme to perform any of the functions of any of the above-named bodies, and any committee or joint committee of or wholly or partly appointed by any such authority or body;
The expression “prescribed” means prescribed by order made by the Minister for Local Government;
The expression “Local Government election” means an election of a member or members of a Local Authority;
The expression “police constable” includes any member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and any member of the Civic Guard;
The word “payment” includes any pecuniary or other reward;
The expressions “pecuniary reward” and “money” include any office, place or employment, and any valuable security or other equivalent for money, and any valuable consideration;
Every expression relating to registration, electors, or elections used in this Act which is also used in the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), shall, if not otherwise defined in this Act, have the same meaning as such expression has in the Electoral Act, 1923.
Repeals.
57.—(1) The enactments mentioned in the Second Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule, except so far (if at all) as they apply to elections other than Parliamentary elections.
(2) All references in any existing statute, order, regulation or rule to any of the Acts wholly or partially repealed by this Act shall be deemed to be references to this Act, but in the case of Acts partially repealed by this Act only so far as such references relate to the portion of such Act so repealed.
Short Title.
58.—This Act may be cited as “The Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923.”
FIRST SCHEDULE.
PART I.
Persons legally employed for payment.
1. One election agent and no more.
2. In a county constituency one deputy election agent (in this Act referred to as a sub-agent) to act within each polling district, and no more.
3. One personation agent at each polling station and no more.
4. In a borough constituency, a number of clerks and messengers, not exceeding in number one clerk and one messenger for every complete five hundred electors in the constituency, and if there is a number of electors over and above any complete five hundred of electors, then one clerk and one messenger may be employed for such number, although not amounting to a complete five hundred.
5. In a county constituency, for the central committee room one clerk and one messenger for every complete five thousand electors in the constituency; and if there is a number of electors over and above any complete five thousands of electors, then one clerk and one messenger may be employed for such number although not amounting to a complete five thousand.
6. In a county constituency a number of clerks and messengers not exceeding in number one clerk and one messenger for each polling district in the constituency, or where the number of electors in a polling district exceeds five hundred, one clerk and one messenger for every complete five hundred electors in the polling district, and if there is a number of electors over and above any complete five hundred or complete five hundreds of electors, then one clerk and one messenger may be employed for such number although not amounting to a complete five hundred: Provided always that the number of clerks and messengers so allowed in any constituency may be employed in any polling district where their services may be required.
7. In a university constituency, one clerk for every complete thousand electors in the constituency; and if there is a number of electors over and above any complete thousand of electors, then one clerk may be employed for such number although not amounting to a complete thousand.
PART II.
Legal Expenses in Addition to Expenses under Part I.
1. The personal expenses of the candidates.
2. The expenses of printing, the expenses of advertising, and the expenses of publishing, issuing, and distributing addresses and notices,
3. The expenses of stationery, messages, postage, and telegrams.
4. The expenses of holding public meetings.
5. In a borough constituency the expenses of one committee room for every complete five hundred electors in the constituency; and if there is a number of electors over and above any complete five hundreds of electors, then of one committee room for such number although not amounting to a complete five hundred.
6. In a county constituency the expenses of a central committee room, and in addition of a number of committee rooms not exceeding in number one committee room for each polling district in the constituency; and where the number of electors in a polling-district exceeds five hundred one additional committee room may be hired for every complete five hundred electors in such polling-district over and above the first five hundred.
7. In a university constituency the expenses of one committee room.
8. Expenses in respect of miscellaneous matters other than those mentioned in Part I. and in this Part of this Schedule, so nevertheless that such expenses are not incurred in respect of any matter or in any manner constituting an offence under this or any other Act, or in respect of any matter or thing, payment for which is expressly prohibited by this or any other Act.
PART III.
Maximum Scale.
The expenses mentioned in Parts I. and II. of this Schedule, other than personal expenses and the fee, if any, paid to the election agent (not exceeding in the case of a county election seventy-five pounds and of a borough election fifty pounds, without reckoning for the purposes of that limit any part of the fee which may have been included in the expenses first above mentioned) shall not exceed an amount equal—
in the case of a county election to fivepence for each elector on the register;
in the case of an election for a borough to fourpence for each elector on the register.
Where there are two or more joint candidates at an election the maximum amount of expenses in Parts I., II., and III. of this Schedule shall, for each of the joint candidates, be the amount produced by multiplying a single candidate's maximum by one-and-a-half and dividing the result by the number of joint-candidates.
PART IV.
General.
1. For the purposes of this Schedule the number of electors in a constituency or a polling district at any election shall be the number of electors whose names appear on the register of electors for the time being in force for that constituency or district as being entitled to vote at that election.
2. Where the same election agent is appointed by or on behalf of two or more candidates at an election, or where two or more candidates, by themselves or any agent or agents, hire or use the same committee rooms for such election, or employ or use the services of the same sub-agents, clerks, messengers, or polling agents at such election, or publish a joint address or joint circular or notice at such election, those candidates shall be deemed for the purpose of this enactment to be joint candidates at such election:
Provided that—
(a) The employment and use of the same committee room, sub-agent, clerk, messenger, or polling agent, if accidental or casual, or of a trivial and unimportant character, shall not be deemed of itself to constitute persons joint candidates.
(b) Nothing in this enactment shall prevent candidates from ceasing to be joint candidates.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Session and Chapter | Short Title. | Extension of Repeal. |
13 & 14 Vic. c. 69. | Representation of the People (Ireland) Act, 1850. | Secs. 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97. |
17 & 18 Vic. c. 102. | Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1854. | Secs. 2, 3, 7, 8. |
35 & 36 Vic. c. 33. | The Ballot Act, 1872. | Part III. |
46 & 47 Vic. c. 51. | The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1883. | Sections 1 to 39 so far as unrepealed. Section 61. Schedules 1 & 2. |
48 & 49 Vic. c. 56. | Parliamentary Elections Corrupt Practices Act, 1885. | The whole Act. |
58 & 59 Vic. c. 40. | Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1895. | The whole Act. |
8 Geo. V. c. 64. | Representation of the People Act, 1918. | The whole Act so far as unrepealed. |
Note:—The repeal of the above enactments effected by this Act does not prejudice the applications of such enactments to Local Government Elections.