New South Wales Consolidated Acts

ELECTORAL ACT 2017 - SECT 198

198 Canvassing on election days

(1) Canvassing in or near voting centre A person must not--

(a) canvass for votes, or

(b) solicit the vote of any elector, or

(c) induce any elector not to vote for any particular candidate or group of candidates, or

(d) induce any elector not to vote at the election,

on election day--

(e) within a voting centre, or

(f) within 6 metres of an entrance to a voting centre.

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

(2) Amplified canvassing audible in or near voting centre A person must not contravene this subsection. This subsection is contravened if on election day each of the following paragraphs apply--

(a) the person engages in--

(i) canvassing for votes, or

(ii) soliciting the vote of an elector, or

(iii) inducing an elector not to vote for a particular candidate or group of candidates, or

(iv) inducing an elector not to vote at the election,

(b) the person engages, in any public or private place, in that activity 6 metres or more from an entrance to a voting centre,

(c) the person uses any of the following to engage in that activity--

(i) a loud speaker,

(ii) a public address system,

(iii) an amplifier (whether fixed or mobile),

(iv) a broadcasting van,

(v) a sound system,

(vi) radio equipment,

(vii) any other equipment or device for broadcasting,

(d) that activity is audible--

(i) within the voting centre, or

(ii) within 6 metres of an entrance to the voting centre.

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

(3) Canvassing includes distributing electoral material Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a reference to canvassing for votes includes a reference to distributing electoral material, whether or not the material is registered in accordance with Subdivision 6.