BNS Section 174: Punishment for Undue Influence or Personation at an Election

Definition of BNS Section 174

Section 174 of the BNS 2023 States:
Whoever commits the offence of undue influence or personation at an election shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.

Explanation and Illustration of BNS Section 174

Undue influence and personation during an election are criminalised under section 174 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These comprise actions that force voters or bribe them and impersonate somebody else to cast a vote in that person's name to destroy the electoral process.
This section, therefore, ensures elections are held on a clean merit without manipulation through force, deceit, or fraud. It punishes such crimes to ensure the credibility of elections and protect the democratic rights of the people. It can give punishment with rigorous imprisonment or a fine.

• Illustration:
  In case a voter impersonates another voter by making use of other people's identities to vote; that is a Section 174 offense. In cases where a candidate gives money or threats to a voter in the expectation of winning their vote, such would be deemed undue influence thus violating the election. In both examples, the convict can be arraigned and penalties meted accordingly to ensure elections are fair and transparent.

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