Media Coverage Of New Polity Poll

The following are links to recent media coverage of Polity Research’s April 2025 poll of Massachusetts Registered Voters—conducted on behalf of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts:

Boston Business Journal

State House News Service

MassLive

'Wide Awakes' And The 1860 Vote

In February of 1860, several young men in Hartford, Connecticut took it upon themselves to provide security for a campaign speech by Republican Cassius Clay (the politician, not the boxer). One month later, this group was formally organized in Hartford as ‘The Wide Awakes’—a Republican Party youth organization dedicated to electing Abraham Lincoln as president. 

Many young people in America had become disillusioned with the partisan bickering that characterized the 1850s—when the issue of slavery tore apart the nation. These young people saw ‘The Wide Awakes’ movement as an exciting new way to participate in national politics. 

And, indeed, it was a unique movement—with distinct uniforms that gave off an almost paramilitary air. They marched in lock-step unison, with identical hats and canvas capes, carrying 6-foot-long kerosene torches. To say the least, they were a huge departure from the political movements that had—to that point—dominated the 19th century.

‘The Wide Awakes’ routinely turned out thousands to their pro-Lincoln rallies in New York, Chicago and Boston. An October 1860 rally in the Massachusetts capital was particularly impressive as all the torches were lit at the same moment—synchronized by a single gunshot. 

By the end of the 1860 presidential campaign, the ranks of the ‘Wide Awakes’ had swelled to 500,000—with active chapters in every northern state. To put this in perspective, the ‘Wide Awakes’ alone made up 1.6% the total population of the entire nation (almost 32 million people in 1860). 

Not only did the ‘Wide Awakes’ movement significantly contribute to Lincoln’s victory, it also demonstrated that well-organized political activity can mobilize young, first-time voters to positively change national politics. It was way ahead of its time.