No project discussion is linked yet.
At the moment there is a 6-month limit within which a prosecution must be brought forward for crimes under the Electoral Act, which includes voter fraud, bribery (and related offences) with respect to elections, threatening or harassing voters, or making illegal election advertisements.
There is also a similar limit for offences under the Electoral Finance Act, including: financial agents who fail to make a return for their candidate or party or third party, filing incorrect returns, or not filing expenses on time and correctly. This probably means that the vast majority of offences will go unpunished. In reality any case that is not discovered very early is unlikely to result in conviction or discipline for the offenders.
It would be very simple to repeal the relevant sections.
Is there an issue about this leading to parliamentary uncertainty, because someone could serve 2.5 years before being charged.
I reckon there needs to be some kind of directive to the investigating and prosecuting agencies to do it quickly.
A directive, sure- but no hard limits. The problem is essentially that major electoral fraud can be committed and nobody even finds out for six months, let alone has time to organise a prosecution.
Yes absolutely! :)
I would just hate to see the issue being allowed to drag on for ages by agencies with no sense of urgency. Imagine, for example, a 2.5 year investigation into an issue about Hide's Epsom campaign.
Does anyone have an idea of legislation which includes the requirement to investigate/prosecute with speed and efficiency?
I've linked a draft at the bottom of the page- I think it covers everything.
Err, never mind, sorry, misread your comment.
I think if you don't want a hard limit, it's really a regulation you want, and not a law.