How Politically Active Are You?

By: Emily Maggrett

6 Min Quiz

Image: SDI Productions/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Whether you love talking about politics or find political discussions more boring than a documentary about knitting, you have to admit that politics are a big part of the daily fabric of our lives. Some folks react to that by getting involved directly with various political causes, while others prefer to ignore social issues in favor of taking care of their own friends and family. However, many of your daily actions are probably more political than you think they are! That means that you may secretly be a politically active person, whether you know it or not.

If you'd like to find out where you fall on the politically active spectrum, this is the quiz for you! We're going to ask you all kinds of questions about whether you like to fight online, how you handle conservative relatives, and if you think society is changing for the better. Even if you don't have a political bone in your body, we're guessing that you have thoughts on all three of those issues! All you have to do is share your honest opinions with us. Our quiz supercomputer will figure the rest out.

Are you ready to discover how political you actually are? Then pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee and take this quiz!

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Are you registered to vote?

No

Uh, maybe? How do I check?
Yes, of course.

Not only am I registered, but I use the app VoteWithMe to nag my family and friends to register, too!

Corinna Kern/Moment/Getty Images

Have you ever attended a protest?

No, that sounds scary.

No. I think protests are kind of extreme.
I don't protest regularly, but I've taken part in a march or two.

Dude, I ORGANIZE protests.

gollykim/E+/Getty Images

Do you know who your members of Congress are?

My who now what now?

Umm ... I know that I should ...
Yes. I looked it up on https://whoismyrepresentative.com/

I contact my members of Congress so often that I've nicknamed them "my M.O.C."!

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In your opinion, the most important political action a person can take is ... ?

Taking care of themselves and their family

Donating to the local food bank
Fighting against global warming

Running for office

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Do you donate to any charities?

I donate to MYSELF.

If my friend has a GoFundMe, I'll chip in $5.
I donate to the Sierra Club.

I donate to national charities, local charities, political candidates, food banks ...

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When your friends start talking about politics, what do you do?

Head home!

Tactfully change the subject
Make a comment or two

Happily debate them for hours

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Have you ever volunteered?

Ew, no.

Once, in high school. It was a graduation requirement.
I don't currently volunteer anywhere, but I'd love to find something easy that I could do from home.

I volunteer with a couple of organizations.

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Are you annoyed by people who are "too P.C."?

Yeah. They need to calm down.

Not usually, although some people take their political correctness too far.
Not at all. They just care about making sure everyone is respected.

No! Because I'm the one that people are usually calling "too P.C.," to be honest.

Global News

Do you know what the Trump impeachment hearings are about?

Um, no. But they sure seem to be taking forever.

Not really, though I wish I did.
Yes. And I'm boiling mad!

Yes. Unfortunately, I'm the only person in my family who does, so I spend a lot of time explaining it.

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Would you be willing to date someone whose political beliefs were the opposite of yours?

Sure, why not?

It depends ... what do they believe, exactly?
Probably not. If we don't see politics the same way, we likely don't have much in common.

Absolutely not! If they don't agree with me politically, their morals are suspect.

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How do you get your news?

Life's too short for listening to the news.

Mostly through articles that my friends post on social media
I subscribe to my local paper and the New York Times

Radio, print, online, Twitter ... I'm a news junkie!

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If a coworker asked you to do an eco-friendly challenge with them, such as "No Plastic November," what would you say?

"Sorry, but I'd rather not do political stuff at work."

"That sounds cool, but I'm just too busy."
"Sure! I'd like to start reducing my plastic use, and that might be easier if we have an accountability group."

"Yes! And let's start a compost in the breakroom!"

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Have you decided who you'll vote for in the Democratic primary?

I'm not a Democrat.

I'm not sure ... I'm liking a few people.
Of course!

Yes, and I'm busy trying to convince everyone I know to vote for them too.

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Imagine that you're unhappy with your child's public school. What would you do?

Put my child into private school

Complain
Show up at a school board meeting and formally voice my concerns

Run for head of the P.T.A.

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Are you aware of local political issues in your community?

No. I have an actual life, L.O.L.

I'm aware of the ones that affect me, like new housing developments in my neighborhood.
I have opinions about a number of local issues, from the mayor's race to county water rights.

I'm actively involved in local politics and have even attended city council meetings.

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Have you ever used Resistbot?

I've heard of Resistbot, and I think it's obnoxious.

No, what's that?
Yes, I think it's a wonderful tool for quickly contacting politicians via Facebook.

I use Resistbot to get in touch with Congress every day!

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If you really believed in a candidate, would you take any actions on their behalf?

Nah. It's their job to get elected, not mine.

I might share a post by them on social media.
I might attend one of their rallys.

I'd volunteer for their campaign!

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Do you think that politics affects your life?

No, not really

Sometimes, but not by much
Yes! Even if it's not obvious, decisions made at the legislative level affect all of us.

Not only does politics affect my life, but it also affects the lives of future generations. That's why I fight!

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In your opinion, when celebrities get involved in politics, it's ... ?

Totally uncalled for

Pretentious
Mildly annoying

Great (if they're on my side)

Nick Dolding/DigitalVision/Getty Images

When their older relatives say things that are (accidentally) racist, how do you think people should respond?

By saying nothing. They're old and can't help it.

With openly dismayed body language that shows the relatives that they're not being appropriate
By gently correcting your relative

By starting a long-term dialogue with your relatives about racial issues, even if it makes everyone uncomfortable.

FiveThirtyEight via YouTube

Do you know who Nate Silver is?

No. Should I?

Is he ... a baseball statistician?
Yes. He's a famous statistician who analyzes election results.

O.M.G., I'm such a Nate fan that I check his Twitter daily!

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You find out that the workers at your favorite restaurant chain tried to unionize, but the CEO fired them. What do you do?

Nothing. It's not my problem.

I might avoid going to that chain for a few weeks.
I'd boycott the chain and write something mean on their Facebook page.

I'd organize a weekly protest in front of the location closest to me.

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Would you ever get into an argument about politics online?

No. That way lies madness.

I did once, and I've always regretted it.
I get into those arguments from time to time, even though I think they're bad for my mental health.

I get into arguments about politics online almost every day!

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You think that, in general, society is changing for the ... ?

Better, I guess?

Worse. But I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do about that.
Better, definitely. But there's still a lot of work to be done.

Better in some ways, worse in other ways. But we have the power to change it!

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Have you ever gone door-to-door for a politician?

Eek, no.

No ... but I might, for the right candidate.
I did in a past election, but never want to do that again.

It's stressful, but I believe it's a very powerful way to connect with undecided voters.

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If your uncle said something incredibly offensive about LGBTQ people at Thanksgiving, you would ... ?

Ignore it

Ask your parents to speak to him about it
Talk to him about it after dinner

Challenge him right there at the dinner table

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What percentage of your Christmas gifts do you usually buy from small or locally owned businesses?

None, usually

One or two, if I see something I really like
50% of them. I know it makes a big difference to small business owners.

90% of them. Because I hate corporations!

Sally Anscombe/Moment/Getty Images

What do you recycle?

Nothing

Bottles, cans and paper
Bottles, cans, paper and "food-plus" items

Bottles, cans, paper and "food-plus" items. AND I'm a "freegan."

TEDx Talks via YouTube

Your favorite activist is ... ?

Uh, I don't know. Dr. Martin Luther King?

Greta Thunberg
Malala Yousafzai

All of the water protectors!

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Would you ever consider helping others register to vote?

No. I've got a packed schedule (and also, better things to do.)

Yes, but only through very simple actions, like sharing a Vote.org link
I'd be willing to text out the vote, if I could do it from home.

I'm up for any and all get-out-the-vote activities, from tabling at events to asking my employer to give employees time off to vote.

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