Before an election is it legal to pay someone to move out of a jurisdiction so that they will not be allowed to legally run for a specific office?
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No - at least not in South Carolina, depending on your intent.
SECTION 7-25-200. Unlawful inducement to file for or withdraw from candidacy for election.
(A) It is unlawful to offer or accept, or attempt to offer or accept, either directly or indirectly, money, a loan of money, or any other thing of value which includes, but is not limited to, employment or the promise of employment to induce a person to file or withdraw as a candidate for any state or federal elected office.
The FEC, apparently does not see this a problem federally.
- Conduct that Does Not Constitute Federal Election Fraud Various types of conduct that may adversely affect the election of a federal candidate may not constitute a federal election crime, despite what in many instances might be their reprehensible character. For example, a federal election crime does not normally involve irregularities relating to: (1)distributing inaccurate campaign literature, (2) campaigning too close to the polls, (3) engaging in activities to influence an opponent’s withdrawal from an election,
George White
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is it legal to pay someone to move out of a jurisdiction so that they will not be allowed to legally run for a specific office?
Yes. Relocation is not illegal, and therefore neither is the act of paying someone to relocate.
The payer is not liable for the disqualification resulting from the candidate's conscious decision to commit a lawful act such as relocation.
Iñaki Viggers
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