Draft Article 873 introduces a sanction for “accepting by a voter (referendum participant) for one’s own benefit or that of a third person of money or material values for exercising the electoral right”, i.e. for vote selling. In the course of the visit to Bishkek the delegation of ODIHR and the Venice Commission experts heard different views on this proposal. Some interlocutors supported this initiative, emphasising its potential deterrent effect. Others described the proposal as impractical and unnecessary.
