Heterogeneity in immigrants’ municipal engagement and participation in Calgary
Abstract
Canadian political science has a long history of studying elections at the provincial and federal levels, but there is a gap in studying municipal elections. Additionally, Canadian political science has some interest in studying immigrant participation in provincial and federal elections, but more research on immigrant involvement in municipal elections is required. The limited research on immigrant voting behaviour also combines immigrant communities into
homogeneous groups for research purposes, which does not allow for a nuanced understanding of immigrant communities. Canadian political science, therefore, needs more research regarding immigrant participation in municipal government, engagement in local elections, and the differences among immigrant communities. My research addresses these gaps in 3 ways. First, I explore the differences between immigrant and non-immigrant groups in Calgary to establish potential differences in their levels of interest and attention to municipal politics. I then address the differences among immigrant communities when it comes to their engagement with municipal governments and their participation in local elections. I then turn to potential policy implications that could help immigrant communities engage with local government and elections.
Notes
Future research / gaps identified:
Examine how immigrants of different genders participate in municipal elections
Key findings:
1) Immigrant communities, on average, have less self-reported interest in and knowledge of municipal politics when compared to provincial and federal politics.
2) The mean score of immigrant respondents for the likelihood of voting in the Calgary 2025 election was 3.45, which indicates that the average respondent was between “somewhat likely” and “very likely” to vote.
3) The belief that voting is a civic duty or a responsibility was among the most selected answers to why immigrants voted municipally.
4) The most common reason for not voting was the perception that they do not have enough education regarding municipal politics or government to participate in an election.
Key populations: immigrants of voting age and eligibility in Calgary, AB
Community organizations: n/a
Integration timeline: not defined
Key recommendations:
Target the following 5 areas to encourage more immigrants to vote in municipal elections:
i) Increase opportunities to learn about municipal elections
ii) Disseminate more information about the municipal government
iii) Create services to help learn about the municipal government
iv) Develop immigrant-specific services to increase voter turnout and address non-voters
v) Expand resources to help learn about and compare candidates
Location: Calgary, AB
Open access: Yes