Abby Kiesa – The Conversation

People line up to cast early ballots during the 2022 election at the University of Michigan. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

December 9, 2022

Near record‑high numbers of young people voted during the midterms, signaling a possible shift – or exception – in voting trends

Abby Kiesa, Tufts University

About 27% of 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the midterms, marking the second-highest voter turnout in midterms in 30 years.

Abortion-rights activists gather in front of the Supreme Court in May 2022 ahead of the Dobbs decision. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

July 15, 2022

More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues

Abby Kiesa, Tufts University

As many as 80% of young people want abortion to be legal, and most disagree with the Supreme Court’s recent Dobbs v. Jackson ruling. This could lead to high youth voting rates in the 2022 midterms.

Young Minnesota voters cast their ballots on March 3, before the coronavirus outbreak really set in for the U.S. Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

April 15, 2020

How to reach young voters when they’re stuck at home

Abby Kiesa, Tufts University and Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Tufts University

Young voters are important to the continuity of democracy because voting at a young age leads to continued voting throughout life. This year more than most, they’ll have a hard time getting started.

A high school talks over a civics assignment in an advanced placement class. Johnny Andrews/AP

October 31, 2016

Why America urgently needs to improve K‑12 civic education

Abby Kiesa, Tufts University and Peter Levine, Tufts University

Only about 40-45 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds turned out to vote in the 2012 election. Civic education can improve youth turnout. But civic education itself remains neglected in US schools.

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