CESNOVA

Coordenação: Fernando Ruivo (CES/FE-UC)

Since 1996 Portugal has been one of the few countries in the European Union (EU) where local-level voting rights and eligibility are not only extended to EU citizens, but also include foreigners from Portuguese community countries as well as countries that grant similar rights to Portuguese emigrants. Institutions such as the European Commission, or the Portuguese High Commissariat for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue (ACIDI) consider this policy to be a key element towards the political integration of immigrants. However, after three rounds of municipal elections in 1997, 2001 and 2005 a scientific assessment of this option is still pending. The scarcity of available statistical data presents a perplexing trend: even though only a small minority of eligible persons actually register to vote, a disproportionately large number of foreigners hold elected offices in municipal councils or parish assemblies. This study’s objective is to discover the reasons that immigrants decide to register as voters and to run for office in Portuguese local elections. This not only entails explaining abstention from voting, but also analyzes differences between three previous election cycles. Because existing work has almost exclusively focussed on the Lisbon region, the project involves a nationwide sample covering the distribution of immigrants throughout both urban and rural constituencies. Research will focus on local politics within municipalities and parishes, yet seeks to explore possible links to regional, national and trans-national voting participation levels. This includes an analysis of European Union policies, the role of national representative organizations or associative structures, as well as trans-national ties with organizations from their countries of origin. Government discourse considers local powers and political participation to be one of the pillars of democracy. Regarding immigrants, the lack of statistical information makes this orientation difficult to monitor. Thus, improving official policies through evaluating the impact of immigrant voting rights is an important objective of this project.

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)

Projecto: IME/SDE/81870/2006