General

candidate

Individual holding or seeking elected office.

How the laws define this

Regulating authorities agree on a common core concept: a candidate is an individual seeking, running for, or nominated for an elective public office across federal, state, or local levels. The primary divergence among these rules involves how formal an individual's status must be and whether current officeholders are expressly included. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act 2024 sets a strict threshold by requiring a person to be officially declared or nominated pursuant to election law. Conversely, provisions like California AB 730, Minnesota HF 4772, and Mississippi SB 2577 apply more broadly to anyone running for or seeking nomination or election. Additionally, Use of Digitally Altered Media in Elections (House Enrolled Act 1133 / HB 1133) and RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT SYNTHETIC MEDIA IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS explicitly incorporate incumbents or current office holders into the definition, whereas Delaware HB 316 defers entirely to definitions in state code.

Synthesised from the 7 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 6 of the 7 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Indiana, United States	Use of Digitally Altered Media in Elections (Indiana Public Law 81)	In Force	Includes school board offices and expressly identifies who is protected by the fabricated-media disclosure requirement and who may sue.
Singapore	Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act 2024	In Force	Limits to persons officially declared or nominated under election law.
California, United States	California AB 730 - Deceptive Audio/Visual Media in Elections	In Force (Amended)	Limits solely to individuals running for elective office with no further elaboration.
Minnesota, United States	Minnesota HF 4772 - Deepfakes Regulation	In Force	Explicitly lists special districts, towns, home rule charter and statutory cities, and counties.
Mississippi, United States	Mississippi SB 2577 - Deepfakes Regulation	In Force	Includes state district and county district offices.
Rhode Island, United States	RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT SYNTHETIC MEDIA IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS	In Force	Explicitly includes incumbents or current office holders.

What it triggers

In Indiana, candidates are protected by the fabricated-media disclosure requirement and may bring a private civil action against violators.source
In Singapore, candidates are protected by prohibitions on publishing realistic deepfakes during the regulated election period.source
In California, candidates are covered by prohibitions on the malicious distribution of deepfakes within 60 days of an election, allowing for injunctive relief and damages.source
In Minnesota, candidates are subject to strengthened prohibitions against the deceptive use of deepfake technology to influence elections.source
In Mississippi, candidates are protected by criminal penalties and civil remedies for non-consensual dissemination of deceptive deepfakes.source

Definitions (7)

An individual holding elected office or seeking federal, state, school board, or local office; the statute expressly defines this term to determine who is protected by the fabricated‑media disclosure requirement and who may bring the private civil action.

Use of Digitally Altered Media in Elections (House Enrolled Act 1133 / HB 1133)Definition 1 of 7

A person officially declared or nominated for the election pursuant to election law; candidates are the class of individuals protected by the Act's prohibitions on digitally manipulated OEA during the regulated election period.

Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act 2024Definition 2 of 7

An individual running for elective office.

California AB 730 - Deceptive Audio/Visual Media in ElectionsDefinition 3 of 7

As defined in § 8002 of Title 15 of the Delaware Code.

Delaware HB 316 - Deepfakes in ElectionsDefinition 4 of 7

An individual who seeks nomination or election to a federal, statewide, legislative, judicial, or local office including special districts, school districts, towns, home rule charter and statutory cities, and counties.

Minnesota HF 4772 - Deepfakes RegulationDefinition 5 of 7

An individual who seeks a nomination or election to a federal, statewide, state district, legislative, judicial, county, county district, or municipal office.

Mississippi SB 2577 - Deepfakes RegulationDefinition 6 of 7

Includes an incumbent or current office holder.

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT SYNTHETIC MEDIA IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONSDefinition 7 of 7

Not to be confused with

DEPICTED INDIVIDUAL

Candidate refers to individuals holding or seeking elected office, while depicted individual is any person represented in the AI-produced media.

Communication

Candidate identifies a person involved in elections, whereas communication is content concerning a candidate distributed to the electorate.

Questions and answers

Which jurisdictions protect candidates from deepfakes in elections?

Indiana, Singapore, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Rhode Island have laws protecting candidates from deepfakes or deceptive media. Protections include disclosure requirements, prohibitions on publication, and civil or criminal remedies.

Does 'candidate' always include current office holders?

Most definitions focus on individuals seeking office, but Rhode Island expressly includes incumbents or current office holders.

What remedies are available to candidates harmed by deepfakes?

Indiana allows candidates to bring private civil actions; California provides injunctive relief and damages; Mississippi offers criminal penalties and civil remedies.

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