38. Is there a ban on vote buying?

Ireland

Ireland

Answer
Yes
Source

Electoral Act 1992, Section 135.
—(1) A person shall not, in relation to a Dáil election— (a) give valuable consideration to induce a voter to vote, or to procure the election of any person or the vote of any voter, or on account of a voter having voted; or (b) procure, by means of, or in consequence of, valuable consideration, the election of any person or the vote of any voter; or (c) withdraw or refrain from withdrawing, in consequence of any valuable consideration, from being a candidate; or (d) induce, by means of, or in consequence of, valuable consideration, any person to withdraw or to refrain from withdrawing from being a candidate; or (e) receive, agree or contract to receive, valuable consideration for voting or agreeing to vote. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. (3) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence under this section shall be guilty of an offence. (4) In this section— “give”, “induce” and “procure” include agreeing or promising or attempting to give, induce or procure, as the case may be, and whether directly or indirectly; “valuable consideration” includes the giving, lending or agreeing to give or lend, or the offer or promise to procure or to attempt to procure, any money, money's worth or valuable security or any valuable consideration or any office, place or employment to or for any person; “vote” includes voting in a particular way or refraining from voting.

Comment

This is described as a type of bribery under Irish electoral law.

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