Eight years after our first national survey during the Spring of 2000 which came on the heels of the lowest national turnout for a presidential election in more than 50 years, we sought to understand the drivers behind political engagement and civic participation of a new generation. We found that while more than half of college students were engaged in some form of community service, far fewer were engaged in politics -or even voting.

Through the attitudinal and opinion data that we have collected over the course of fourteen in-depth editions of the Harvard University Institute of Politics’ Survey on Politics and Public Service we have seen dramatic changes in theway young Americans think about, relate to and engage in politics. More importantly we have seen record turnout by this generation during the 2008 primary season.

With the central mission of the Institute of Politics being to engage and inspire young Americans in the memory of John F. Kennedy and his legacy, we are particularly pleased that the underlying shifts in civic participation that we noted in 2002 are not a one-time phenomenon but instead represent the civic reawakening of a new generation.

For example, in the last few months of the primary season, the youth vote (18-29) quadrupled in Tennessee, and approximately tripled in primary and caucus contests in Iowa, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. 1 Compared to our survey in the Spring of 2004 -- the year in which turnout by young voters 18 to 24 increased by 31 percent -- excitement and interest in the campaign is significantly more intense.

With two razor-thin national elections in eight years, the global significance of the issues at stake, a new sense of the meaning and importance of politics after September 11, 2001 and the fact that several campaigns are targeting young people through the use of Web 2.0 and social networking technology all indications are that the 29.5 million 18 to 24 year olds in America are prepared to further extend their two-cycle trend (‘04, ‘06) of increased participation in November.

To read the executive summary, go here: http://www.iop.harvard.edu/Research-Publications/Polling/Spring-2008-Survey/Executive-Summary  

To read the top line data, go here: http://www.iop.harvard.edu/var/ezp_site/storage/fckeditor/file/spring%20poll%2008%20-%20topline.pdf