Irregular migration and criminalization of migrants, protection of children in the migration process and the right to housing and health of migrants 2011, para. 69
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Although most countries with migrant populations do not oblige their citizens to vote, there is certainly a public interest in facilitating and encouraging political participation as a form of active citizenship. High rates of participation strengthen the democratic legitimacy of political authority and may also promote political community through a shared sense of common responsibilities. Low participation rates correlate strongly with socio-economic status and thus create a class bias in democratic politics. With regard to the political participation of ethnic and racial minorities, this represents an issue of special concern. In democratic societies, these communities are more vulnerable when they are politically isolated. They are more easily targeted as outsiders, cannot voice their own interests, and often come to be regarded as second-class citizens. For these groups of migrant origin which also consist of ethnic and racial minorities, low rates of political participation do not result from their own choices but are due to other circumstances, some of which can be influenced by public policy.
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Non-negotiated soft law
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Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants