Voter participation in Inuit communities during the 2025 federal elections showed a decline, prompting calls from leaders for enhanced community engagement. According to a recent report by Elections Canada, the estimated turnout in Indigenous communities for the 45th general election in April 2025 was analyzed.
Over the past three federal elections, voter turnout in Inuit communities decreased from 43.6% in 2019 to 30.2% in 2025, while the national average stood at 69.5% last year. However, regional trends varied.
Comparing the 2025 election to the previous one in 2021, voting rates increased for Inuit in the Northwest Territories’ Inuvialuit region and Nunavut by 7.5% and 1.6%, respectively, with turnout hovering around 35%. In the Nunatsiavut region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Inuit saw a slight decrease of 2.5% compared to 2021.
A significant drop in turnout was observed in Nunavik, part of the Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding in Quebec, where only 14.7% of Inuit voters participated in the election in 2025, nearly half of the 2021 turnout rate. Elections Canada attributed this decline partly to polling booth closures or delays in opening in most of the region’s 14 villages due to adverse weather conditions and staffing shortages on voting day.
Elections Canada acknowledged shortcomings in prior outreach efforts and meaningful engagement with all Nunavik communities, including those with voting services. Despite CBC News’ request for an interview, the agency declined to comment.
Pita Aatami, president of Makivvik representing Inuit in Nunavik, emphasized the need for election officials to actively engage with communities. Aatami expressed concerns about voter apathy and proposed making voting mandatory, similar to census participation, to increase voter turnout. He also suggested exploring online voting options to improve accessibility for voters. Aatami stressed the importance of individual responsibility in exercising the right to vote.
