New research points out a pattern: participation in elections is linked to how connected people feel to society. Political integration is often overlooked compared to labour market integration. But in a time of growing political tensions, it becomes increasingly important. 

What drives participation? 

To better understand this, researchers are now studying neighbourhoods in Denmark, Sweden and Estonia where many residents have a migrant background and voter turnout is relatively low. They are looking at how people relate to politics, how decisions are made and what makes a difference. One thing stands out: access to information matters. When initiatives in a neighbourhood in Copenhagen helped inform and engage voters, turnout increased from 33 to 47 per cent. Lack of information about when and how to vote is one reason why participation is lower. 

The research also challenges a common assumption that migrant voters lean clearly to the political left. Earlier studies show that while many vote for social democratic parties, their attitudes are not necessarily left-leaning. In Norway, some immigrants are socioeconomically conservative and may support right-wing parties. At the same time, fieldwork in Estonia shows that local issues, like the city environment, can matter more than ethnic or cultural questions. 

The conclusion is clear: there is no single “migrant voter”. People have different backgrounds, priorities and worldviews. 

Read more about the research on the NordForsk wbsite: Understanding how migrant voters respond to increasing radical right-wing politics | NordForsk