CORRUPT PRACTICES, methods em ployed in elections to influence the voter or to change the result of the election in an improper manner. The practices al luded to are bribery, making false elec tion returns, making false declaration regarding election expenses, and person ation of voters. The English Parlia ment led the way in putting a stop to these abuses of democratic elections. As early as 1854 it had passed a law against bribery at election, entitled the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act. In 1883 Parliament passed what is prob ably, even to-day, the most effective and sweeping Corrupt Practices Act. Its main provisions are that it inflicts se vere penalties, imprisonment and fine, upon those who practice bribery or "un due influence" upon voters. So broadly has this last phrase been interpreted that an English court has held an en tertainment given with the intention of corrupting voters to be a violation of the law. The law further provides for the
restriction within very narrow limits of the number of persons paid by campaign committees for their work in the elec tions; it prescribes a fixed scale of law ful expenditures by candidates or com mittees, and requires a full and correct account of all expenditures. The United States was slow in following Great Brit ain in this respect. The opening of the 20th century saw a change for the bet ter, and, by 1920, nearly every State had placed upon its statute book a Cor rupt Practices Act. Hardly any of them are as sweeping in their provisions as the English act, but all require the pub lication of campaign expenses and set penalties for false returns. See ELEC TORAL REFORM.