Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg & Ruby Belle Booth: Will Gen Z Vote?

For democracy to endure, democratic institutions and values must be passed from one generation to the next. And there’s plenty of good news about how Gen Z—the youngest and most diverse generation of voters—is engaging in politics. Young people are participating and voting at levels at least equal to previous generations. But there are reasons for concern too: Many Americans are growing up in civic deserts, without access to political associations or other forms of collective action. Many of Gen Z are struggling to find a stable political home in the two-party system. And Gen Z is also experiencing a mental health crisis, which is interrelated in complex ways to declines in associational life and political alienation. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg is the Newhouse Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), which aims to expand pathways to civic learning and engagement. Kawashima-Ginsberg also serves on the boards of March for Our Lives and Rhizome. Ruby Belle Booth started at CIRCLE as a Diverse Democracy Fellow, then transitioned to working as Election Coordinator, and is now a Researcher. She contributes to CIRCLE’S Growing Voters report and the Young Leaders Learning Community. Booth was also a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. https://circle.tufts.edu/