AI and Elections: the National Assembly Supports IVADO and CEIMIA’s Code of Conduct
Montréal, March 26, 2026 – As AI plays an increasingly prominent role in elections, governing its use in political campaigns is becoming a collective responsibility. While AI can be a valuable tool for communicating with voters, it can also amplify disinformation, manipulate the public, and erode trust in democratic institutions.
In this context, the National Assembly unanimously adopted on March 24 a motion calling on all political parties represented within it to adhere “without delay” to the code of conduct for the responsible use of AI by political parties in Quebec, developed by IVADO and CEIMIA.
Launched in October 2025, this code provides guidelines for the responsible use of AI by Quebec political parties. To make it more accessible, IVADO and CEIMIA are releasing today an explanatory video aimed at illustrating the importance of issues related to the use of AI in an electoral context.
This voluntary code provides a framework for healthy public debate, safeguarding public trust, and the prevention of AI-driven manipulation. It is built on four key principles: transparency, responsible use of AI, security and governance, and awareness and prevention.
It specifically calls on political actors to commit to not using AI to generate or disseminate content intended to deceive or manipulate voters, whether through disinformation, misinformation, or a failure to fact-check.
In addition to presenting the code, the short video highlights the potential misuses of AI in politics, including the spread of misleading content, deepfakes, targeted messaging, and the propagation of misinformation, while demonstrating that responsible use can make AI a beneficial tool for democracy.
Written by Catherine Régis (Université de Montréal, IVADO, Mila, Canada-CIFAR AI Chair and Chair in Scientific Diplomacy and Global AI Governance – FRQ), Christian Gagné (Université Laval, Institute for Intelligence and Data, Canada-CIFAR AI Chair, Mila, IVADO), and Marc-Antoine Dilhac (Université de Montréal, OBVIA, IVADO), the code is part of a broader reflection on the impacts of AI on the electoral process and democracy. The authors also shared their expertise in an interview for the special feature on AI and elections published on March 21 in La Presse.
By combining a practical tool with a public awareness initiative, IVADO and CEIMIA invite political parties to adopt the code and encourage citizens to remain vigilant about the use of AI in electoral contexts.
Consult the Code of conduct for the responsible use of AI by political parties in Quebec >>