Officials investigating alleged vote buying in Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby

Officials are investigating allegations of voter manipulation in Richmond, Burnaby and Vancouver, B.C. after messages from the Canada Wenzhou Friendship Society sent out on the social media appWeChatappearedto be offering money for voting in those three cities.

The City of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnabyare all conducting investigations and the matter has been referred to Vancouver Police.

Calls and emailsto the Canada WenzhouFriendship Society were not returned.

It is illegal to pay for votes or provide any kind of inducement to vote, according to section 123 of the VancouverCharter. Penalties range from a $10,000 fine, two years in jail and a maximum seven-year prohibition on holding elected office.

Richmond RCMP said it'saware of two allegations stemming fromWeChat.

"We are asking that if you [have] been approached with possible enticements pertaining to any portion of the voting process, please report it to us directly," Cpl. Dennis Hwangwrote in a statement.

According to its website, the Canada WenzhouFriendship Society "is a big family for all people originated [in] Wenzhou city, their family members and relatives in Canada."

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