38. Is there a ban on vote buying?

Source: Artículo 525, Código Electoral de Panamá, 2022. Article 525, Electoral Code of the Republic of Panama, 2022.

(ES)
Artículo 525. Se sancionará con pena de prisión de uno a tres años y suspensión de los derechos políticos e inhabilitación para el ejercicio de funciones públicas por igual tiempo al de la pena principal, a los autores materiales o intelectuales que compren votos o vendan su voto a cambio de dinero, bienes o pago en especie o servicios.

(EN)
Article 525. A penalty of one to three years' imprisonment and suspension of political rights and disqualification from holding public office for the same period as the main penalty shall be imposed on the material or intellectual authors who buy votes or sell their vote in exchange for money, goods, or payment in kind or services.

Available at: https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/29482_A/GacetaNo_29482a_20220222.pdf

The Electoral Code explicitly criminalizes the act of buying or selling a vote in exchange for money, goods, in-kind payments, or services.