Canada Elections Act

Marginal note:Illegal practice

• 502 (1) Every person is guilty of an offence that is an illegal practice who

  • (a) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes section 92 (publication of false statement of withdrawal of candidate);

  • (b) being a candidate or an official agent, contravenes subsection 330(2) (foreign broadcasting);

  • (c) being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 477.55(c), knowingly contravenes section 477.52 (exceeding election expenses limit);

  • (d) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under subsection 480(1) (obstructing electoral process) or 480(2) (inciting, conspiring to act in disorderly manner);

  • (e) being a candidate, contravenes subsection 549(3) (making false declaration in solemn declaration or affidavit) or 549(4) (compelling or inducing false declaration); or

  • (f) being a candidate, contravenes section 550 (signing of document that limits freedom of action in Parliament).

• Marginal note:Corrupt practice

  (2) Every person is guilty of an offence that is a corrupt practice who

  • (a) [Repealed, 2018, c. 31, s. 347]

  • (b) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 43(a) (obstruction of election officer);

  • (c) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, knowingly contravenes paragraph 43(b) (impersonation of election officer);

  • (d) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 56(b) (making false statement to have person deleted from Register of Electors);

  • (e) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 56(c) or (d) (forbidden acts re Register of Electors);

  • (f) contravenes section 89 (signing of nomination paper when ineligible);

  • (f.1) [Repealed, 2014, c. 12, s. 102]

  • (g) contravenes paragraph 111(a), (d) or (e) (forbidden acts re list of electors);

  • (g.1) contravenes section 281.5 (only one vote);

  • (g.2) contravenes paragraph 281.7(1)(a) (request or apply for a ballot or special ballot under false name);

  • (h) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under subsection 282.7(1) (offering bribe);

  • (h.01) being a candidate, knowingly contravenes subsection 477.9(1) (accepting prohibited gift or other advantage);

  • (h.1) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under subsection 480.1(1) (impersonation); or

  • (h.2) being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under section 482.1 (obstruction).

  • (i) [Repealed, 2018, c. 31, s. 347]

• Marginal note:Consequences of illegal, corrupt practices

  (3) Any person who is convicted of having committed an offence that is an illegal practice or a corrupt practice under this Act shall, in addition to any other punishment for that offence prescribed by this Act, in the case of an illegal practice, during the next five years or, in the case of a corrupt practice, during the next seven years, after the date of their being so convicted, not be entitled to

  • (a) be elected to or sit in the House of Commons; or

  • (b) hold any office in the nomination of the Crown or of the Governor in Council.