Close Up Washington

The inaugural NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026 drew 400 first-time voters to Washington to deliberate, not debate, policy questions ahead of the midterms. Hosted by @CloseUp_DC in partnership with @StanfordDDL, @GenerationLab_, and the @HooverInst. hoover.org/news/nextgen-r…

Back in June, high school students from across the country & U.S. territories joined us in DC for our annual Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) w/ @closeup_dc! 🏛️ Proud of this inspiring cohort of changemakers! 👏 👉 Learn more about YLA: apaics.org/youth-leadersh…

What happens when 400 first-time voters from every corner of America choose dialogue over division? The @HooverInst Center shares thoughts from NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026 in this week's story: closeup.org/hoover-institu… @StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab

3 deliberations @StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026

16 workshops @StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026

400 first-time voters @StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026

Thank you so much to our Democracy & Elections Panelists: @johncfortier1, @AEI David Griffith*, @educationgadfly Walter Olson, @CatoInstitute Zaid Zaid, Orange Court Strategies Amari Fennoy, @NAACP @MiaCharity, Close Up Foundation (Moderator) *Close Up alum

What questions did first-time voters ask about American democracy & elections? 💬"Who should be tasked w drawing maps to keep it non-partisan?" 💬"Would you rather have term limits or age limits?" 💬"How can institutions secure elections from fraud without making voting harder?"

@johncfortier1, @AEI David Griffith*, @educationgadfly Walter Olson, @CatoInstitute Zaid Zaid, Orange Court Strategies Amari Fennoy, @NAACP @MiaCharity, Close Up Foundation (Moderator) *Close Up alum

Decision 2026 closes w a conversation curated by first-time voters with experts who have dedicated their careers to upholding American democracy. #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026 @StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst

Thank you so much to our amazing panelists: @dianappliego, @NILC Helena Coric, @forum_together Eddy Acevedo, @NEDemocracy @HTosteGOP *, @LIBREinitiative Eric Adydan, Close Up Foundation (Moderator) *Close Up alum

💬"What changes can be made to the immigration system to make it less hostile?" 💬"If birthright citizenship is overturned, how does that impact our country?" 💬"How should we balance promoting democracy around the world w/o interfering?" - Questions by first-time voters

Diana Pleigo, National Immigration Law Center Helena Coric, National Immigration Forum Eddy Acevedo, National Endowment for Democracy Helder Toste*, The LIBRE Initiative Lindsey Warburton, Niskanen Center Eric Adydan, Close Up Foundation (Moderator) *Close Up alum

NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026 connects first-time voters to experts with a combined six decades of immigration policy experience. #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026

@StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst

"I'm here getting to know all these people during [deliberation], when we go out into the city, when we just hang during student lounge. I can't stop thinking about how incredible this experience is." #NextGenRoundtable #Decision2026 - Shreyoshi, First-Time Voter, California

@StanfordDDL @Generation_Lab @HooverInst

Thank you so much to our amazing AI in Society panelists: @PatriceWillobee, @NAACP @TheProdiJake, @ALEC_states @MainetoDC*, Internet Works @LekasSIIA*, @SIIA Carolyn Smith, @WorkingAmerica @MiaCharity, Close Up Foundation (Moderator) *Close Up alum

💬"Why do we need such human chatbots? Are we unable to interact w AI simply as a robot?" 💬"Is AI use for military applications ethical?" 💬"Do you think it's more important to continue the expansion of AI or build safeguards before expansion?" - Questions by first-time voters