Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9)

Marginal note:Obstruction, etc., of electoral process

• 480. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who, with the intention of delaying or obstructing the electoral process, contravenes this Act, otherwise than by committing an offence under subsection (2) or section 481 or 482 or contravening a provision referred to in any of sections 483 to 499.

• Marginal note:Public meetings

  (2) Every person is guilty of an offence who, at any time between the issue of a writ and the day after polling day at the election, acts, incites others to act or conspires to act in a disorderly manner with the intention of preventing the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purposes of the election.

Marginal note:Offering bribe

• 481. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who, during an election period, directly or indirectly offers a bribe to influence an elector to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate.

• Marginal note:Accepting bribe

  (2) Every elector is guilty of an offence who, during an election period, accepts or agrees to accept a bribe that is offered in the circumstances described in subsection (1).

Marginal note:Intimidation, etc.

482. Every person is guilty of an offence who

• (a) by intimidation or duress, compels a person to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election; or

• (b) by any pretence or contrivance, including by representing that the ballot or the manner of voting at an election is not secret, induces a person to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election.

Marginal note:Offences requiring intent — dual procedure

483. Every person is guilty of an offence who contravenes

• (a) paragraph 5(a) (voting when not qualified or entitled) or 5(b) (inducing a person not qualified or entitled to vote, to vote); or

• (b) section 7 (voting more than once).

Marginal note:Strict liability offences — summary conviction

• 484. (1) Every former election officer who contravenes paragraph 43(c) (failure to return election documents and election materials) is guilty of an offence.

• Marginal note:Offences requiring intent — summary conviction

  (2) Every person is guilty of an offence who

  • (a) being a returning officer, wilfully contravenes subsection 24(3) (failure to take promptly any necessary election proceedings); or

  • (b) contravenes subsection 43.1(1) (refusal to give access to building or gated community).

• Marginal note:Offences requiring intent — dual procedure

  (3) Every person is guilty of an offence who

  • (a) contravenes subsection 22(6) (acting as election officer knowing requirements not met);

  • (b) knowingly contravenes subsection 23(2) (communication of information for unauthorized purpose);

  • (c) being a returning officer, contravenes subsection 24(6) (engaging in politically partisan conduct);

  • (d) being a returning officer or assistant returning officer, wilfully contravenes section 31 (acting in another capacity);

  • (e) contravenes paragraph 43(a) (obstruction of election officer) or wilfully contravenes paragraph 43(b) (impersonation of revising agent); or

  • (f) being a former election officer, wilfully contravenes paragraph 43(c) (failure to return election documents and election materials).