本研究主要在探討於2002年北高市長選舉前，北高兩市不同背景選民在政治效能感上的差異，並分析政治效能感與政黨認同對選民投票傾向的影響。研究結果發現，大陸各省市民眾，對北市政府的市民效能感較高，而對中央政府的政治功效意識較低。不過，高市的大陸各省的民眾則對兩個層級政府的效能感皆偏低。本省閩南人則對北市政府的市民效能感較低，但卻對中央政府的效能感較高。至於高雄市的本省閩南人，則對兩個層級政府的效能感都較高。本研究也發現，高雄市民對地方政府政治效能感較高的民眾，較傾向支持現任市長繼續連任。台北市民眾，政治效能感較高者，會支持現任市長繼續執政，不過，民進黨認同者且具有較高政治效能感者，則不傾向支持現任的國民黨市長。本研究強調，民眾所居住地區政府對民眾的「回應性」（responsiveness）與其政治支持之間，具有顯著關聯，因此，地方行政首長在政策制訂時如能夠多回應民意的需求，必能讓民主政治得以在地方政治中紮根與成長。

This study examines the differences among the electorate in their sense of political efficacy and analyzes how it may have affected people’s voting behavior in the 2002 mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung cities. It demonstrates that mainlanders tend to have higher civic efficacy toward the Taipei city government, but they turn out to feel less effective toward the Kaohsiung city government. As to Minnanren, they have lower civic efficacy toward Taipei city but feel more effectively toward the central government. We also find Minnanren in Kaohsiung have higher efficacy toward both the local and central government. This study also demonstrates that party identification and incumbent mayors’ performances play major roles in affecting people’s voting behavior, for example people with higher civic efficacy toward the Kaohsiung government are more likely to vote for the incumbent mayor in Kaohsiung. However, DPP supporters with higher efficacy are more likely to vote for the DPP nominee in Taipei. This study emphasizes that local citizens take the responsiveness of the local government seriously, which manifests itself in political support during local elections. Heads of local government have to respond to the people’s demands when they make their decisions, so democracy can have deeper roots in local politics.