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BNS, 2023
Start Practicing
BNSChapter IXSection 172
Section172

Personation at elections

AI Assist

Summary

Applying for a voting paper in someone else’s name (living or dead), in a fictitious name, voting more than once at the same election, or abetting or attempting these acts is a criminal offence called personation at an election. It applies whenever a person seeks a ballot or votes by pretending to be another or by deception. It does not apply to a person who is authorised to vote as a proxy for an elector.

Example

Rohan goes to a polling station and asks for a voting paper in his late uncle’s name so he can cast a vote. That is personation at an election and can lead to criminal prosecution for personation.

Bare Act

Enacted text

Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper on votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure the voting by any person in any such way, commits the offence of personation at an election;

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person who has been authorised to vote as proxy for an elector under any law for the time being in force in so far as he votes as a proxy for such elector.

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IX

Chapter IX

Of Offences Relating To Elections

In this chapter

  • 169Candidate, electoral right defined
  • 170Bribery
  • 171Undue influence at elections
  • 172Personation at elections
  • 173Punishment for bribery
  • 174Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
  • 175False statement in connection with an election
  • 176Illegal payments in connection with an election
  • 177Failure to keep election accounts
Previous · Section 171Undue influence at electionsNext · Section 173Punishment for bribery