How do Canada and the US differ in terms of political participation and engagement?

Canada and the United States, while sharing a continent and many similarities, differ in terms of political participation and engagement. Here are some of the key differences:

• Voter turnout: Canada generally has higher voter turnout than the US. In the 2019 Canadian federal election, voter turnout was 67%, while in the 2020 US presidential election, it was 66.7%.
• Compulsory voting: Canada does not have compulsory voting, while some US states do.
• Number of political parties: Canada has several significant political parties, including the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, and the New Democratic Party, as well as smaller parties such as the Green Party. The US has a two-party system dominated by the Democratic and Republican Parties.
• Campaign financing: Campaign finance laws in Canada are more restrictive than in the US. In Canada, individual donations to political parties are limited and corporate donations are prohibited, while in the US, both are allowed with some restrictions.
• Duration of election campaigns: Canadian election campaigns are much shorter than US election campaigns. The 2019 Canadian federal election campaign lasted 40 days, while the 2020 US presidential election campaign lasted over 600 days.