Voter participation in Inuit communities during the 2025 federal elections saw a decline, sparking calls from leaders for enhanced engagement with local populations. Elections Canada released a report detailing the estimated turnout in Indigenous communities during the 45th general election held in April 2025.

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, the trend varied across regions.

Compared to the previous federal election in 2021, voting rates increased for Inuit in the Inuvialuit region of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut by 7.5% and 1.6%, respectively, with a turnout rate of around 35%. Similarly, Inuit in the Nunatsiavut region of Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a modest 2.5% decrease compared to 2021.

The data for 2025 was skewed by the turnout in Nunavik, part of the Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding in Quebec, where only 14.7% of Inuit voters participated, nearly half of the 2021 turnout rate. Elections Canada attributed this low turnout to the early closure or non-opening of polling booths in most of the region’s 14 villages due to adverse weather conditions on voting day and a lack of staff.

Elections Canada acknowledged shortcomings 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 on the matter.

Pita Aatami, president of Makivvik representing Inuit in Nunavik, emphasized the need for election officials to actively engage with communities. He stressed that it is the responsibility of officials to ensure a smooth voting process and noted that relying solely on organizations like Makivvik for voter turnout is inadequate.

Aatami expressed concerns about voter apathy and proposed making voting mandatory, drawing parallels to the census process. He also suggested that implementing online voting, similar to Makivvik’s approach in its elections, could facilitate participation. Ultimately, Aatami emphasized individual responsibility in exercising the right to vote.