Political participation in Kitchener-Waterloo: A spatial analysis of the 1993 federal election (Ontario)

This study examines political participation in the 1993 federal election in Kitchener- Waterloo. Voter turnout is modeled at the polling division level using statistical analysis with spatial diagnostics. This study is different from other Canadian research since it uses a fine scale spatial unit and it explores the geographical aspect of political participation. The findings confirm results from other studies as well as showing that geography plays a small but significant role in the decision to vote. The results of the statistical analysis show that polling divisions are appropriate spatial units for the examination of political participation. Demographics, political motivation, space, and voter disaffection are shown to be significant determinants of participation at the urban level. GIS and spatial statistics are used extensively and their application to political analysis is discussed