Understanding Election Day Offences and Their Penalties

The Electoral Act 2022 defines several offences that can be committed on election day. Knowing what is illegal helps you protect yourself and report violations.

Common Election Day Offences

1. Vote Buying and Selling

What it is: Offering or accepting money, gifts, or other inducements to influence how someone votes.

Penalty: Fine of up to N500,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both. This applies to both the buyer and the seller.

2. Ballot Box Snatching

What it is: Forcefully taking, destroying, or tampering with ballot boxes or their contents.

Penalty: Imprisonment of at least 12 months. If the offender is armed or violence is involved, the penalty is at least 24 months imprisonment.

3. Multiple Voting

What it is: Voting more than once, either by using someone else's PVC or by manipulating the system.

Penalty: Fine of up to N500,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

4. Intimidation and Undue Influence

What it is: Using threats, violence, or other forms of pressure to prevent someone from voting or to force them to vote a certain way.

Penalty: Fine of up to N1,000,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both.

5. Impersonation

What it is: Pretending to be someone else in order to vote in their name.

Penalty: Imprisonment of up to 24 months.

6. Disrupting the Electoral Process

What it is: Destroying election materials, preventing INEC officials from doing their work, or causing chaos at a polling unit.

Penalty: Fine of up to N500,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both.

7. Campaigning on Election Day

What it is: Soliciting votes on election day, whether verbally, through leaflets, wearing party colors, or other means.

Penalty: Fine of up to N500,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months.

8. Photographing a Marked Ballot

What it is: Taking a picture of your ballot paper after marking it. This is often done to prove to a vote buyer that you voted for their candidate.

Penalty: This falls under electoral offences and can attract a fine or imprisonment.

How to Report Offences

• Report to the Presiding Officer at the polling unit.
• Alert security personnel at the polling unit.
• Contact INEC's Situation Room.
• Report through this app's Incident Reporting feature.
• Contact civil society observers (YIAGA Africa, TMG, CDD, etc.).

Remember

Reporting offences is not just your right — it is your civic duty. The more citizens report irregularities, the harder it becomes for offenders to go unpunished, and the stronger our democracy becomes.