Fact check: Was there any evidence of election fraud in Canada's 2025 federal elections?

1. Summary of the results

There is no concrete evidence of election fraud in Canada's 2025 federal elections ^[1]. While there were social media claims about irregularities, Elections Canada has confirmed its standard vote counting process and found no systemic fraud ^[1]. Specific allegations, such as suspicious voter turnout in the Carleton riding, were thoroughly debunked with accurate data showing 105,889 registered electors, contrary to social media claims of 80,000 ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were identified:

• Foreign Interference Attempts: While not constituting fraud, countries including China, Russia, and India attempted to spread disinformation, though these efforts had a "small impact" and did not alter election outcomes ^[3].
• Media Projections: Early election projections by media outlets, which some viewed suspiciously, are actually standard practice and don't impact the official vote counting process ^[1]. This is demonstrated by cases like the Terrebonne riding, where results changed from initial projections ^[1].
• Electoral Process Changes: Some confusion arose because electoral riding boundaries had been redrawn since the 2021 census, leading to misunderstandings about population statistics ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several parties have vested interests in promoting various narratives:

• Social Media Misinformation: There were widespread rumors about pencils at polling stations and other unsubstantiated claims ^[4], which benefit those seeking to undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
• Foreign Actors: Countries like China and Russia conducted disinformation campaigns targeting specific candidates ^[5], potentially benefiting their geopolitical interests.
• Democratic Institutions: Elections Canada and other official bodies benefit from maintaining public trust, though their claims are supported by verifiable data and transparent processes ^{[1] [1]}.

The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference report emphasized that while disinformation poses a risk to democratic confidence, it did not constitute actual election fraud ^[3].