Przegląd Zachodniopomorski

The article focuses on the participation of rural residents in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie regions in the 2019 parliamentary elections. The main goal was to examine the level of participation and determine the regional specificity of rural residents’ political engagement while assessing its significance for the development of social capital in rural communities. The study examined voter turnout in the specified elections, particularly in rural municipalities, and also addressed the level of support for the Polish People’s Party (PSL), a political party perceived by the electorate as representing the interests of rural residents. Voter turnout was higher in the rural areas of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region compared to the Zachodniopomorskie region. In rural municipalities located in the eastern part of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, voter turnout was significantly lower compared to the regional average. Territorial differentiation was not as pronounced concerning the level of voter engagement in rural municipalities in the Zachodniopomorskie region. Proximity to larger and smaller cities encouraged rural residents to participate in the elections, with municipalities close to major urban centers exhibiting notably higher mobilization for voting. Conversely, greater distance from major cities was not conducive to higher voter turnout. The higher level of voter participation in the agricultural community in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region can be attributed to the longstanding tradition of PSL influence and stronger ties with this political party.