Voter participation in Inuit communities during the recent federal elections of 2025 showed a decline, prompting calls from leaders for increased community engagement. Elections Canada released a report this week detailing the estimated turnout in Indigenous communities during the 45th general election in April 2025.
The voter turnout in Inuit communities has decreased over the past three federal elections, dropping from 43.6% in 2019 to 30.2% in 2025, while the national average turnout across Canada last year was 69.5%. However, the trend varied across different regions.
Comparing to the 2021 federal election, voting rates among Inuit in the Inuvialuit region of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut increased by 7.5% and 1.6% respectively, with a turnout rate of around 35%. Similarly, Inuit in the Nunatsiavut region of Newfoundland and Labrador saw a minor 2.5% decrease from 2021.
The notable data anomaly in 2025 was the low turnout in Nunavik, which is part of the Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding in Quebec, where only 14.7% of Inuit voters participated, almost half of the 2021 turnout rate. Elections Canada attributed this partly to polling booths closing early or not opening at all in most of the region’s 14 villages due to adverse weather conditions and a staff shortage.
Elections Canada acknowledged deficiencies in prior outreach efforts and meaningful engagement with all Nunavik communities, including those with voting services. The agency declined an interview request from CBC News.
Pita Aatami, president of Makivvik representing Inuit in Nunavik, emphasized the need for election officials to be present in communities and collaborate with them for better engagement. Aatami expressed concerns about voter apathy and suggested making voting mandatory, similar to the census process, to increase turnout. He also proposed the implementation of online voting, similar to Makivvik’s elections, to enhance accessibility. Ultimately, Aatami stressed the importance of individual accountability in exercising the right to vote.