This Civic Health Index is the first assessment of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania. It explores various “civic indicators” that are thought to predict and explain levels of citizen participation in our democracy. Some of those indicators, such as voting and levels of volunteerism, are classic examples of active citizenship. Others are less expected. How many Pennsylvanians eat dinner with their families almost every night? How many talk to their neighbors several times a week? This report reveals how Pennsylvanians compare with the rest of the country — what they are doing right and where there are opportunities for improvement.

SEVEN OVERARCHING RESULTS

1. The most powerful force in American Democracy is the connection among citizens.
Pennsylvanians that are connected to their families, friends, and neighbors are more likely to vote, register to vote, volunteer, make charitable contributions, work with neighbors to x something in the neighborhood, and attend meetings where public issues are discussed.

2. Pennsylvanians are not voting.
When it comes to voting, Pennsylvanians are falling behind. In the historic Presidential Election of 2008 where record numbers of voters went to the polls, including an unprecedented turnout among young voters, Pennsylvania actually saw a drop in:
a. voter turnout
b. voter registration
c. voter turnout among 18–29 year olds
d. voter fulllment (the amount of registered voters that actually voted)

3. Pennsylvanians are expressing their political voice in non–electoral ways.
They outperformed the nation in:
a. contacting a public official
b. buying or boycotting a product or service
c. attending a rally or protest

4. Pennsylvanians are more involved in civic networks than the rest of the nation.
At higher rates than the rest of the nation, PA citizens:
a. belong to more groups
b. serve as leaders to those groups much more than the national average

5. Pennsylvanians connect best with their family and friends.
They rank 20th in the nation, the state's highest rank in all civic indicators, in the following categories:
a. eating dinner with their families several times a week (20th)
b. talking to their neighbors several times a week (20th)

6. Pennsylvanians don't use their social connections to solve problems.
a. Less than half of the people that report talking to and exchanging favors with neighbors, report working with those neighbors to solve a problem in the community.
b. Although 37% of people report belonging to a group, only 9% report attending any community meeting .
c. Although half of Pennsylvanians report keeping in touch with family members via the Internet and rank 20th in the nation in having dinner with one another—they rank 45th in the nation (the state's worst ranking) when it comes to discussing politics with family and friends.

7. Hispanics, single (never married), unemployed, and high school dropouts consistently fall behind their peers in almost every public action civic indicator.
a. voting
b. registering to vote
c. donating money
d. xing something in the neighborhood
e. volunteering
f. attending public meetings