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Barriers to Participation

Elections Canada's research has shown that some groups of Canadians experience barriers to participating in elections. These barriers can include not knowing the many different ways to register and vote, or how to work at an election or run as a candidate. Some Canadians also feel a lack of interest in politics or do not feel confident in their political knowledge. By sharing what we know, Elections Canada and our network of stakeholder organizations can, together, help address some of the access and motivational barriers to getting involved in elections.


Click on one of the links below to see what information we have on barriers facing First Nations, Métis and Inuit electors, people with disabilities, youth and new Canadians.

Are you looking for classroom resources? Check out Elections and Democracy, a site for elementary and secondary teachers. It's full of student-friendly information, interactive tools and cross-curricular lessons.