Election bill takes aim at deepfakes, long ballots, threats to nomination contests

By Canadian Press on March 26, 2026.

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is proposing new legislation to strengthen electoral integrity by banning digital deepfakes of candidates, cracking down on unduly long ballots and protecting nomination and leadership contests.

The government says the Strong and Free Elections Act responds to recommendations from an inquiry into foreign interference and from others, including the chief electoral officer.

The new bill would also introduce new privacy policy requirements for federal political parties.

The government says the bill would ban sophisticated video deepfakes of candidates intended to mislead Canadians.

The bill also takes aim at long ballots, which have become a controversial feature of some high-profile contests.

The Liberals say the bill also aims to protect nomination and leadership contests from threats, including undue foreign influence, bribery and intimidation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2026.

Jim Bronskill and Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

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