CIRCLE in Action

We're focused on the connections between research and practice: on making sure that our work helps to clarify practical questions for educators, communities, and policymakers and has an impact on more equitable youth opportunity and engagement. We strive to ensure that our research is timely and relevant to a broad range of audiences, and we work with local and national partners on numerous campaigns and initiatives to strengthen various aspects of youth civic education and engagement. We believe collaboration is necessary for substantive change to occur and that research informed by the experiences and knowledge of youth and practitioners is most practical.

Explore what we're up to!

Updates and Announcements

Calling on Youth

CIRCLE wants to tap into the important expertise of young people and hear their ideas on how communities can increase, diversify, and sustain youth civic and political engagement. Read and share this call for short proposals from youth interested in creating a blog post or video for our site.

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Free Course for Teachers

Want to prepare your students for civic participation now and in the 2020 elections? Join CIRCLE for a free online course, co-led by the Civic Engagement Research Group, on teaching about informed and equitable voting. The course will run from June 15 to July 26; register by June 3!

Enroll in the Course

A Webinar for Educators

Ever wondered how you could (better) increase voter participation among your students? Join CIRCLE staff and the Close Up Foundation on June 3rd at 3pm to explore the factors impacting youth civic engagement and research-based ideas for encouraging the involvement of youth in your community.

Latest Research

What are we working on? Check out the most recent CIRCLE data and analysis on youth participation in civic life.

Young Women's Political Engagement in Elections and Beyond

Data from CIRCLE polling shows that young women voted at higher rates than men in 2018, are more likely to support social movements and engage in activism, and feel prepared to participate in civic life.

Young People and Vote By Mail: Lessons for 2020

Our analysis of which youth voted by mail in 2012 and 2016, how they did it, and why, can offer insights to those looking to expand the practice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CIRCLE and OYUnited: Improving Voter Access through Research-Fueled Action

Lessons from our initiative helping young leaders connect with election administrators to broaden youth voting.

Explore More Research

In the Media

There should be a vibrant, data-informed public conversation about youth civic education and engagement: what's working, what's not, and why it's important. Our research, which appears frequently in major media outlets, helps to drive that conversation.

Quoted:

Both parties should try to expand the electorate to include more people who are maybe first-time voters. That really just means bringing more diverse voices into the fold and making sure that more young people have the tools and the capabilities they need to vote.

—Kristian Lundberg, CIRCLE Researcher, in Will Young Voters Ever 'Feel the Bern' for Biden?

More CIRCLE Reearch in the News