Reasons for Low Voter Turnout in Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou (Research Proposal Sample)

LOW POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN ABITIBI—BAIE-JAMES—NUNAVIK—EEYOU VOTING DISTRICT AND NATURE OF POLITICAL COMPETITIVENESS AMONG CANDIDATES
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Abstract
This research paper investigated the reasons for low voter turnout in Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou district in Quebec and the less competitive nature of candidates in the politics of the Quebec voting district. Data were collected from voters and professionals, scholars, and policymakers who have been in public service, particularly on matters of political issues and party politics in the Canadian system. Voters' motivations to participate in political processes and potential barriers that hinder their participation was the main focus, while the specialists provided an in-depth view of the causes of low voter turnout in Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou electoral district from the target population. It was projected that the preference of a candidate over another is a determinant factor for low voter turnout rate in Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou Riding. The choice for selection is not presented as an effective approach to influence the choice of a candidate and preference of one over another. Therefore, the current issues facing the Canadian voting turnout of voters are influenced by preference and candidate presented for the election. The majority of voters are uninvolved in politics, which raises concerns for Canada's democracy. They attribute their lack of political engagement to socioeconomic concerns. The majority of unemployed youth are uninterested in voting.[The ridings had the lowest, highest voter turnout in the 2019 election. October 23. https://globalnews.ca/news/6068315/ridings-highest-lowest-voter-turnout-2019-election/] [Michael Pal, "Social Media and Democracy: Challenges for Election Law and Administration in Canada," Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy 19, no. 2 (2020): xx, doi:10.1089/elj.2019.0557]
Introduction
Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, which is the largest riding in Quebec is also the most underrepresented in the politics of Quebec and less involved in the voting processes. Before Cree lawyer Romeo Saganash was elected during the 2011 Orange Crush election, there was no representation. In 2019, Romeo Saganash did not run for office, allowing Sylvie Bérubé to win a fiercely contested election and become the first woman to represent the Abitibi riding. In Quebec, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou had the lowest voting participation, with 44.7 percent during the 2019 election. Concerns have been raised about the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou population's troubling tendency, with questions raised about their lack of political participation and low voter turnout..[Shushan Bacon, "All eyes on Abitibi: Why one Quebec riding has so much sway this federal election," National News, last modified September 16, 2021, https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/all-eyes-on-abitibi-why-one-quebec-riding-has-so-much-sway-this-federal-election/.]
Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou is identified as a voting block with the decisive power on elections due to their high population numbers compared to other Quebec voting districts. There are 87,000 constituents and 64,000 eligible voters in the riding. Indigenous people make up about 30% of eligible voters. This is the most extensive riding in Quebec and the third-largest in the country.. It is home to 14 Inuit villages, 9 Cree communities, two Algonquin communities, the Naskapi region, and other non-Indigenous towns. Sylvie Bérubé, a member of the Bloc Québécois, was reelected this year, 2021, with 38% of total votes cast, with Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou registering just an about 50% voter turnout. Sylvie Bérubé beat two locals in the race and won the election a second time.. The youth, low-income constituents, and the unemployed form the highest percentage of the Quebec population that show a lack of interest in voting and have disconnected themselves from politicians. The Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou Riding is Quebec's most extensive riding, with a significant influence on political decisions because it encompasses the province's most important geographical area, stretching from Val d'Or in the south to Hudson Strait in the north. The Cree territory of Nunavik's Inuit area and Eeyou Istchee make up the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou electoral district. Abitibi's electoral district had not had an indigenous representative until 2011, when Cree lawyer Romeo Saganash was elected. However, during the 2019 election, Cree lawyer Romeo Saganash did not run for the seat, which Sylvie Bérubé won. She was the first woman to vote in the Abitibi voting district after winning the seat under the Bloc Québécois.. In the 2021 elections, she was re-elected to her position. Seven additional candidates were vying for the Abitibi vote.[Susan Bell, "In Northern Quebec, Federal Candidates Are Courting the Indigenous Vote," CBC.ca - Watch, Listen, and Discover with Canada's Public Broadcaster, last modified September 17, 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6178028] [Bacon, "All eyes on Abitibi."] [Michael D. Behiels, "Quebec," Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed December 7, 2021, https://www.britannica.com/place/Quebec-province] [The Global and Mail, "Canada’s 2021 Federal Election | Live Results," The Globe and Mail, last modified September 20, 2021, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/federal-election/2021-results/.]
While prior research has linked low political involvement and voter turnout to factors such as youth, employment, and income, this study focuses on the deeper connections between these factors and the role played by the political class in this outcome. For many years, southern Quebec has decided elections, while northern Quebecers have remained unrepresented while having the power to determine election winners. Politicians spend a lot of time trying to persuade Canadian people from areas with more decision-making power to vote, yet these attempts rarely work in Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou. The study is helpful for political parties, scholars, and policymakers interested in learning more about democratic participation in Canada and potential hurdles to participation, particularly in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou electoral area.[Bell, "In Northern Quebec”]
Method
A mixed research method approach was used to perform the study. This is due to the topic's broad scope, which necessitated a quantitative approach to data gathering and analysis and an in-depth assessment of the low voter participation in the voting district from experts and decision-makers in the region. The target sample was taken from the voter population to provide a wide range of ideas and opinions that result in low voter turnout during elections, as shown in the 2019 and 2021 elections, and could be repeated in future elections.. Voters in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou voting district offered their opinions and views on the basics of voting decision. These findings are expected to affect decision-making and match party politics with voters' needs and expectations, resulting in increased involvement. As a result, the thoughts and views of the voters were examined using a quantitative research method to gather a large number of representatives. The qualitative study was used as another research approach in the investigation. The goal of the qualitative research was to gather in-depth data by conducting in-depth interviews with professionals, specialists, political analysts, and other policymakers from the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou electoral district and other regions.[The Global and Mail, "Canada’s 2021 Federal Election | Live Results," The Globe and Mail, last modified September 20, 2021, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/federal-election/2021-results/.] [Britannica, "Political Process," Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed December 7, 2021, https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada/Political-process]
A questionnaire was created and utilized to gather information from voters on their motivations for participating in the political process as well as potential hurdles to involvement. For this study, 105 voters were questioned from a random sample that was typical of the entire population. The electoral commissions were asked for permission to ensure that the data collected was adequate, and the necessary permits were obtained to ensure that the study was carried out efficiently. Respondents were asked to participate, and their involvement was guaranteed in terms of privacy and confidentiality, as well as the fact that it was voluntary. These controls guaranteed that research ethics were taken into account during the data collection procedure. The participants we at least 18years old. With the medium age being 35years old. The qualitative study, on the other hand, used a sample of 15 participants who provided detailed information about the target population. An in-depth interview instrument was utilized to collect data and aid the researcher in collecting data in the qualitative study. In order to provide an in-depth picture of the potential causes of low voter turnout in Abitibi, the study interviewed professionals, scholars, and policymakers who have worked in public service, notably on political issues and party politics in the Canadian system, Electoral district of Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.
The partici...