81. Prohibition of dissuasion from voting

A person must not between the day of nomination and polling day (both days being inclusive) at any election, by word, message, writing or in any other manner dissuade or attempt to dissuade any person from giving his or her vote at the election.

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

Despite the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 relating to the powers of search of any police officer, if any police officer has reasonable cause to believe that an offence is being committed under subsection (1), the police officer, by virtue of his or her office, is empowered to enter and search any premises or place for the purpose of ascertaining whether such an offence is being committed.

The offence under subsection (2) is an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.