CID 2024-2025 Goals
CID’s mission is to improve the social and economic quality of life in U.S. communities by producing non-partisan research that informs policy and on-the-ground organizing efforts through education and outreach for a more engaged, transparent, and representative democracy. CID conducts pioneering research that explores voting behavior, civic engagement, as well as electoral and economic issues at the intersection of social justice and democracy.
Since its founding in late 2010, CID has become a nationally recognized source of publicly available data, research and analysis on civic engagement and representation. The Center’s extensive library of research has been instrumental in informing electoral and civic engagement leaders nationwide in the development of relevant election reforms, such as automatic voter registration, online voter registration, vote centers and the influence of money in politics. CID research also tracks geographic shifts and trends in electoral participation, providing up-to-date analyses of the disparate impact of barriers to civic and electoral participation.
CID frequently partners with policymakers and nonpartisan civic engagement groups to increase civic and political participation, particularly among underrepresented groups. CID's research informs and empowers a wide range of policy and organizing efforts aimed at providing opportunity and well-being to all Americans.
CID Goals for 2024-2025
In 2024-2025, CID will focus on producing and disseminating innovative research for real-world impact and for strengthening our nation’s democracy.
CID’s research will address what we view as the most pressing democracy-related policy questions in three areas:
1. Electoral and Civic Representation
2. Voter “Information/misinformation Gap”
3. Health and Trust in Democratic Institutions
Within these focus areas, we will address the following research questions of national significance:
Which policies and practices are best at reducing voter suppression and disenfranchisement?
Which specific election reforms can best mitigate entrenched turnout disparities across demographic groups, and in what ways should they be further expanded?
How can we improve policies around drawing districts and counting votes to ensure that each vote counts?
What are some of the most significant impacts of money in politics, particularly on equitable policy outcomes?
How can policy makers, civic leaders, advocates, media and philanthropic efforts best support pro-democracy efforts?
How do new forms of communication technology, such as AI, affect the way community members trust and relate to their elected representatives and election officials, (and vice versa), form and share opinions, build coalitions, question proposed legislation or district boundaries, and challenge existing inequalities in their communities?
CID’s research will be informed by and produce the following:
Expanding Community-Engaged Research Partnerships
Expanding Data Mapping Toolkits and Resources
Transforming Professional Training and Networks