Photo of several buttons that encourage people to vote

Civic Engagement

At the Ash Center, we’re generating new ideas and insights for the future of civic engagement — everything from voter participation to democratic deliberation.

Buttons from the Political Buttons Collection at Harvard Kennedy School

Civic engagement — from voting to volunteering — is the engine that drives democracy forward. Robust citizen participation at every level of government provides the feedback that democratic systems require to be responsive and productive.

But what happens when people are systemically shut out of deliberation? Can we boost declining voting rates? How will we create a culture of civic engagement in an increasingly digital, AI-influenced world?

These are the questions the Ash Center community works to answer.

Our programs generate novel ideas about making civic engagement more robust, enabling everyone to participate. Ash scholars are researching how citizens can better provide input into government programs, processes, and policies. Together, we are developing a blueprint for what the future of civic engagement can look like.

We encourage you to explore the below events, research, and commentary to learn more about our work.

The Latest News, Research, and Resources


Filter by

  • Format

Filters

Close

Filters

Format

Jail-Based Voting in Denver: A Case Study
Man in green jumpsuit puts ballot in box in Denver jail

Case Study

Jail-Based Voting in Denver: A Case Study

In this latest report on providing access to registration and voting for the hundreds of thousands of Americans being held in jails without having been convicted, Tova Wang looks at how Denver – and the State of Colorado – have become a model for the nation.

What led to the rise — and then fall — of participatory democracy in Colombia?
A ballot box reads

Feature

What led to the rise — and then fall — of participatory democracy in Colombia?

Research by Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow Jamie Shenk highlights how referendums in Colombia served as a powerful tool to block the expansion of mining and oil enterprises before the practice was curbed by the country’s Supreme Court.

What role can sports teams play in 2024 voter turnout?

Q+A

What role can sports teams play in 2024 voter turnout?

Ash Center Senior Researcher Tova Wang and NFL Network analyst Scott Pioli answer questions about how sports teams can foster civic engagement.

Problems at the Polls? Election Administration in the Midterms
Photo of the event details

Video

Problems at the Polls? Election Administration in the Midterms

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Institute of Politics, and HKS Black Alumni Association invited folks to watch a discussion with former West Virginia Secretary of State and current Institute of Politics Fellow Natalie Tennant, and Ash Center’s Tova Wang for a discussion on running an election in turbulent times.

Re-envisioning a new Black agenda for Boston
Stevenson standing outside an HKS building, looking toward camera, dressed in sweater and jeans

Feature

Re-envisioning a new Black agenda for Boston

David Corbie MPA 2023 is sparking a new conversation about how to shift the paradigm in Boston and strengthen opportunities for the city’s Black community

Book Talk: The Government of Chance — Sortition and Politics from Athens to the Present
Graphic of the event details

Video

Book Talk: The Government of Chance — Sortition and Politics from Athens to the Present

The Ash Center invites you to watch a book talk and series of panel discussions to mark the publication of The Government of Chance: Sortition and Politics from Athens to the Present (Cambridge University Press, 2023) by Yves Sintomer, Ash Center Visiting Democracy Fellow; Professor of Political Science, Paris 8 University; and Associate Member, Nuffield College, University of Oxford. Jane Suiter, Professor of Political Communication at Dublin City University chaired the discussion.

Breaking Barriers: AAPI Trailblazers in State Government
Graphic of the event details

Video

Breaking Barriers: AAPI Trailblazers in State Government

The Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia hosted a conversation with AAPI members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Rep. Tram T. Nguyen MC/MPA ’24 and Rep. Tackey Chan on the importance of AAPI representation in state government, policy issues that impact AAPI communities, and running for office.

Non-Citizen Voting in Boston: The Next Step for Expanding the Franchise?
Graphic of the event details

Video

Non-Citizen Voting in Boston: The Next Step for Expanding the Franchise?

As efforts get underway to expand the franchise to non-citizens in Boston, the Ash Center and the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston hosted a conversation to learn about how non-citizen voting once was the norm and how it’s making a comeback.