With Election Day looming, prominent pollster Brent Buchanan and his firm Cygnal gauged public support for stronger K–12 civic education, including the bipartisan federal Civics Secures Democracy Act.
The poll engaged a national sample of 3,002 adults from September 15–26, 2022, including 2,385 likely voters; 1,195 Republican primary voters; and 803 K–12 parents, with substantial overlap across groups. Overall, respondents demonstrated strong support for more emphasis on civics in this pivotal moment for our constitutional democracy:
- Two-thirds of likely voters think civics in schools should be emphasized more, with Republican primary voters (64%) and parents (59%) registering strong, but slightly lower support.
- Similar numbers across these three groups see civics as more important now than it was five years ago (likely voters, 69%; Republican primary voters, 66%; and K–12 parents, 66%).
- Nearly two-thirds of likely voters (65%) support more funding to ensure every child receives an adequate civic education, as do 59% of Republican primary voters and 64% of K–12 parents.
Turning to the Civics Secures Democracy (CSD) Act, specifically, a majority of likely voters support the bill at first blush, and support only increases with additional knowledge of the bill’s provisions.
Post-election, CSD faces its final consideration in a lame duck session with a full congressional plate. Members of Congress must know that likely voters and parents of all stripes prioritize more time and funding for K–12 civics, as embodied by CSD. Help us translate strong public support for K–12 civics into a tangible, generational investment in students, teachers, schools, and districts:
- Use our online toolkit to contact your senators and representative about the bill, urging CSD’s outright passage or inclusion in a larger legislative vehicle.
- Use our updated social media graphics and suggested messages that incorporate the recent positive polling data to spread the word.
