Section 1: In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"ballot paper" means the printed form used for the purpose of voting for a candidate; "candidate" includes a person nominated for election as - (a) President of Sierra Leone; (b) Member of Parliament; (c) Paramount Chief; or (d) member of a local council, town or village head; "constituency" means a constituency prescribed by the Electoral Commission, acting with the approval of Parliament, under subsection (1) of section 38 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991; "Constitution" means the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991(Act No. 6 of 1991); "Court" means the Election Offences and Petitions Court referred to in section 145; "corrupt practice" includes personation, undue influence, bribery, aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any of these offences; " dangerous weapon or missile" includes a cannon, gun, rifle, carbine, revolver, pistol or any other firearm, bow and arrow, spear, cutlass, knife, dagger, axe, cudgel, or any other thing capable of being used as an offensive weapon or missile, including teargas, acid and an inflammable substance capable of injuring a person; "district" means a district established under the Provinces Act (Cap. 60); “district block representation system” means a voting system for electing representatives in electoral districts as specified in the 12th schedule; "District Returning Officer" means a person appointed by the Electoral Commission to supervise and conduct district level elections; "election" means an election for the President of Sierra Leone, Member of Parliament, Paramount Chief; local council, town or village head; "election material" includes - (a) a ballot box, ballot paper, counterfoil, envelope, packet, statement and other document used in connection with voting in an election; (b) information technology equipment, instruments,seals and other materials required for the purpose of conducting an election; "election period" means the period between the commencement of an election, which is the date of the proclamation of the election and the ending of the election, which is the date the Electoral Commission receives the results of the election for publication in the Gazette; "electoral area" means a district, ward or other electoral area into which Sierra Leone is divided; "Electoral Commission" means the Electoral Commission referred to in section 32 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991; "Electoral Commissioner" means a member of the Commission; "electoral officer" includes a member of staff of the Electoral Commission or a person performing a duty under this Act" 2 3 Interpretation. No. 17 The Public Elections Act 2022No. 17 The Public Elections Act 2022 5 "Paramount Chief" means a chief who is not subordinate in his ordinary jurisdiction to any other chief but does not include an acting chief or a regent chief; "Paramount Chief Member" means a member of Parliament referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 74 of the Constitution; "political party" means an association of persons registered as a political party under the Political Parties Act, 2002; "Polling Agent" means a person appointed as polling agent by either a political party or an independent candidate to observe polling in a polling station or polling centre on their behalf; "Polling Assistant" means a person appointed polling assistant under paragraph (c) of section 49; "Polling Centre" means an area prescribed by the Electoral Commission within an electoral ward or chiefdom for the purpose of voting on polling day; "Polling Centre Manager" means a person appointed by the Electoral Commission to supervise the conduct of polling at the polling centre under paragraph (b) of section 49; "Polling Station" means a building or structure where polling takes place during election day; "presidential candidate" means a person standing as a candidate in a presidential election; "presidential election" means an election to choose a person to the office of President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; "public election" means an election of the President, Members of Parliament, members of local councils, town or village head, in the Western Area Rural District;