Civic Literacy Report - Introduction - Civic Engagement in the United States

Civic Engagement in the United States
ISI posed the question below to 2,508 randomly sampled Americans to determine their civic engagement in America. The result for each item indicates the percentage of respondents who had performed that activity at least once in their lifetime. Responses were divided into separate categories for analytical purposes. An important distinction was made between “passive” civic engagement—just registering and casting a vote; and “active” civic engagement—going beyond mere voting to engage in more participatory activities in the electoral process.
Which of the following activities have you participated in at least once in your life (check all that apply):
Passive Civic Engagement Percentage Yes
Registered to vote	92.2%
Voted in an election	87.6%
Average percentage	89.9%
Active Civic Engagement
Tried to influence how others vote	46.6%
Attended political meetings, rallies, fund-raisers, or similar events	48.4%
Worked on a political campaign	24.2%
Gave money to help a political campaign	40.6%
Contacted a public official	56.3%
Signed a petition about a political issue	64.5%
Published a letter to the editor	25.1%
Average Percentage	43.7%
Elective Office
Successfully elected to a government office	6.6%

The Survey