Research summary
The local political scene, the nexus of power closest to citizens, is largely misunderstood by researchers and even by citizens themselves. To get to the bottom of these misunderstandings, Dr. Sandra Breux, Canada Research Chair in Municipal Elections, is exploring municipal democracy in urban settings.
Breux and her research team have narrowed their focus to three themes: low turnout in elections, lack of clarity about candidates, and opacity with regards to issues. They are starting a dialogue about these problems to identify their causes and potential impacts on voters’ political choices, candidates and elected officials. They will explore how municipal issues take shape and circulate and shed light on the specifics of municipal politics in Canadian cities.