Electoral Participation in Municipal, Provincial and Federal Elections in Canada

RésuméAu Canada, la participation électorale à l’échelle municipale est plus faible qu'aux autres échelles de gouvernement et les raisons susceptibles d'expliquer ce moindre engagement sont encore mal connues. À partir des taux de participation à la mairie aux élections de 2005 et de 2009 dans l'ensemble des municipalités du Québec (n = 949), la recherche teste 15 hypothèses explicatives de la participation électorale municipale. Les résultats montrent que quatre facteurs expliquent en grande partie la participation électorale municipale et ses variations. Il s'agit de la taille de l’électorat, de la présence d'un électorat âgé, de la marge victorieuse et du nombre de candidats en lice. Ces résultats permettent de mieux cerner le coût du vote à l’échelle municipale, tout en soulignant la nécessité de réaliser davantage d'enquêtes monographiques sur cet objet au Canada, notamment dans les plus grandes municipalités où la participation électorale y est plus faible.

Section: Discussionunclassified

Section: L'effet Du Contexte Sociospatial Et Sociodémographiqueunclassified

Analyse écologique des déterminants de la participation électorale municipale au Québec

Couture

Breux²,

Bhérer

2014

“…Oliver and colleagues (2012) for example, identified the local voter profile as being white, elderly, homeowning, educated and with above-average income. In Canada, Nakhaie (2006) showed that age is the primary explanatory variable of behaviour in municipal elections. Trounstine, however, reminds us that although the sociodemographic context should not be neglected in the analysis of local electoral participation, the political context remains important and it should therefore be analyzed in detail (2009: 613).…”

Section: Influences On Voter Turnoutmentioning

confidence: 99%

Turnout in Local Elections: Evidence from Canadian Cities, 2004–2014

Breux¹,

Couture

Koop

2017

We provide the first wide-scale analysis of the factors that influence voter turnout in Canadian local elections. Drawing on original data from 300 municipal elections conducted from 2004 to 2014, we use ordinary least squares regression with panel-corrected standard errors for time series cross-sections to test explanatory hypotheses related to differences in institutional design, the social-spatial context of these elections, and local competitiveness. Our results show that, although institutional and sociospatial factors influence local turnout, the competitiveness of elections exercises the greatest influence on local electoral participation.

“…Through these skills and abilities, immigrants can acquire information and understand the mechanisms related to political participation. Immigrants' higher educational attainment tends to increase while their lower language ability decreases their political knowledge and participa-tion~Pattie and Johnston, 2003;Gidengil et al, 2004;Bloemraad, 2006;Nakhaie, 2006!. Nevertheless, studies that do take into account socioeconomic differences between immigrants and those born in Canada still show differential political participation between these groups~see Black, 1991;White et al, 2006;Reitz and Banerjee, 2007;Howe, 2007!. Another explanation for differential participation of immigrants and those born in Canada might be due to the differences in social relations, norms and values between these groups.…”

Section: Immigrants and Political Participationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others have taken Putnam's lead and evaluated the importance of social capital in the domain of politics. They have shown that membership in voluntary participation stimulates political participa-tion~Wolfinger and Rosenstone, 1980;Verba et al, 1995;Tossutti, 2003!. Those who are active in voluntary associations pay more attention to news about politics in media, have more interest in politics and engage in more political discussion than their counterparts~see Gidengil et al, 2004!. Nonvoters are more likely to be socially isolated, and are less likely to volunteer or belong to organizations and associations~Sabucedo and Cramer, 1991; Ragsdale and Rusk, 1993;Pattie and Johnston, 1998;Nakhaie, 2006!. Similarly, the relationship between marital status, residential mobility, home ownership, social networks and community residence with voter turnout all point to the role of social capital for political participation~Eagles and Erfle, 1989;Pattie and Johnston, 1998;Tossutti, 2003;Nakhaie, 2006!.…”

Section: Social Capital and Political Participationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Capital and Political Participation of Canadians

Nakhaie

2008

Self Cite

Abstract. This paper evaluates the importance of social capital for political participation of native-born Canadians and immigrants. The Survey of Social Engagement in Canada, a large survey of Canadians conducted by Statistics Canada in 2003, is used in order to test the role of social relations and connections in accounting for political participation. Analyses show that although the “usual suspects” play important roles in explaining political activities, the main culprit is social capital. Among social capital measures, though all are important, associational involvement and social networks, followed by trust and volunteering, are the best predictors of political participation. Moreover, the effect of social capital varies by period of immigration. Theoretical and policy implications of findings are discussed.Résumé. Cet article évalue l'importance du capital social pour la participation politique des Canadiens de naissance et des immigrés. L'Enquête sociale générale, cycle 17 : L'Engagement social, une grande enquête menée par Statistique Canada en 2003, sert de toile de fond pour estimer le rôle des rapports et liens sociaux dans la participation politique. Les analyses montrent que, bien que d'autres facteurs connus jouent un rôle dans le choix d'activités politiques, le plus important est le capital social. Parmi les mesures de ce facteur, qui sont toutes importantes, l'activité au sein d'une association et les réseaux sociaux, suivis de la confiance et du travail bénévole, sont les meilleurs prédicteurs de la participation politique. Suit une discussion des conséquences théoriques de ces résultats et de leur incidence sur la politique générale.