- Apr 12, 2011
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I ran across this video a few months ago when the U.K. was having their general election, it lists 7 things that are illegal to do in their election. Personally, I thought the U.S. could benefit from these laws. I'll post the laws and the video as well.
1) Use political power to bribe voters - While in purdah (a certain time before election day), leaders (national or local) cannot announce any new policy, sign any contract, or do anything official that can be seen as trying to unduly use their power to influence the election.
2) Spend too much money - Each individual candidate, depending on the size of your area, have a limit on campaign spending. Every penny has to be accounted for, and you can be disqualified even afterwards if you are found to exceed the limit. The law covers most loopholes or tricks to get around them. The national parties also have a limit for themselves and their candidates as well.
3) Advertise on television - The UK has never allowed political ads on television. The parties are allowed some airtime on major channels, but must state it's an election broadcast.
4) Allow bias on TV news - By law, TV news must be fair and balanced. If the BBC generally gets an equal amount of complaints from all sides, they've figured they've done their job right.
5) Granny farming - Go to a retirement community and by some means, get access to their mail vote or get nominated as their proxy voter.
6) Spoil the result - You can't release any kind of early voting results.
7) Not take down your posters afterwards - You have to take down any kind of poster or sign you put up in your yard within two weeks after the election.
Thoughts?
1) Use political power to bribe voters - While in purdah (a certain time before election day), leaders (national or local) cannot announce any new policy, sign any contract, or do anything official that can be seen as trying to unduly use their power to influence the election.
2) Spend too much money - Each individual candidate, depending on the size of your area, have a limit on campaign spending. Every penny has to be accounted for, and you can be disqualified even afterwards if you are found to exceed the limit. The law covers most loopholes or tricks to get around them. The national parties also have a limit for themselves and their candidates as well.
3) Advertise on television - The UK has never allowed political ads on television. The parties are allowed some airtime on major channels, but must state it's an election broadcast.
4) Allow bias on TV news - By law, TV news must be fair and balanced. If the BBC generally gets an equal amount of complaints from all sides, they've figured they've done their job right.
5) Granny farming - Go to a retirement community and by some means, get access to their mail vote or get nominated as their proxy voter.
6) Spoil the result - You can't release any kind of early voting results.
7) Not take down your posters afterwards - You have to take down any kind of poster or sign you put up in your yard within two weeks after the election.
Thoughts?