Paper short abstract:

Taking into account the strong contribution that the Cape Verdean diaspora has in the economy of Cape Verde, a nation where the diaspora numbers exceeds the residents, Cape Verdean diaspora contributed only with 7.4% of votes in the last elections. What still keeps many voters away from the polling stations?

Paper long abstract:

Although the Cape Verdean diaspora is numerically superior to residents in Cape Verde, on the electoral roll with a total of 305,349 registered voters, merely 36,970 are listed in all the countries of the diaspora, a total of 12.1% of voters.

In recent presidential elections in 2011, the diaspora contributed with 7.4% of the votes spread over 241 polling stations. Although there are a number of people heavily involved and engaged in electoral matters, to conquer a wide audience and census Diaspora remains a challenge.

Dispersed across several continents, with higher expression in Europe, Portugal, America, USA and Africa in Angola, most Cape Verdean diaspora has not yet gained much a right and that the diaspora from other countries claim.

Considering the strong contribution that the Cape Verdean diaspora has in the economic balance of Cape Verde, which is a nation in which the diaspora exceeds in number the residents, what still keeps so many voters away from the polling stations?

Having been involved in the electoral process of the Cape Verdean diaspora in Portugal since 1995, and participated more actively in the last parliamentary and presidential elections, it is intended to provide a brief analysis of the possible reasons that keep most of the Cape Verdean diaspora away from polling stations.