Offences
Offences committed by candidates, political parties, members of the public, or by organizations include:
- breaches of laws relating to financing of parties and campaigns,
- personation,
- physical intimidation or 'undue influence',
- bribery of voters,
- bribery of candidates,
- breaches of regulations concerning political broadcasting,
Offences Committed by Electoral Officials and Public Officials
Though most offences relate to misconduct by candidates, political parties, or members of the public, the behaviour of public officials responsible for administering elections is also open to question. Indeed, those entrusted with administering elections have special opportunities to subvert the electoral process and, for this reason, should arguably be liable to especially severe penalties. This reasoning is embodied in some election laws in Britain. For instance, higher penalties apply to officials convicted on indictment of these offences than to other persons88. Mexico is another country where public officials are liable to special penalties.
Mexico
A 1994 amendment to the Federal Criminal Code contains a classification of electoral offences. They include:
- Offences perpetrated by electoral officials: altering documents belonging to the Federal Registry of Electors, modifying results, stealing ballot or electoral documents, and allowing the insertion of invalid ballots in the ballot box.
- Offences perpetrated by public officials: forcing subordinates to vote for a specific candidate or political party, using public funds, goods or services to favour a given party or candidate.
It is also an offence under Mexican law for ministers of religion to try to influence a voter's decision or to encourage abstention89.
