The B.C. government is overhauling election rules which will hold new spending limits, a so-called “gag” on third party advertising and stronger voter identification requirements.

Attorney General Wally Oppal says the changes follow recommendations made by B.C.’s cardinal electoral officer in 2006, to clarify the transaction for voter registry, establish a more accurate voters’ list and give the electoral officer more power to enforce the rules.

Under the changes, harvested land party can spend up to $4.4 million put on the 28-day election campaign, and up to $2.2 million during the 120-day proposition before the campaign begins.

Restrictions on third party advertising, so-called discrimination gag laws, will see third parties limited to expenditure $150,000 during the entire 148-day period.

The new law will furthermore edict contributions from treaty political parties to prevent federal tax dollars from funding provincial campaigns.

In addition, door-to-door enumerations will resume after the 2009 preference, voter identification requirements direct be beefed up to reduce voter fraud, and more voters will be dexterous to register by telephone.

© The Canadian Press, 2008