Keywords: youth, first time voters, deliberative polling, public opinion

This paper examines the recruitment methodology used for "America in One Room: The Youth Vote," a national Deliberative Poll conducted in July 2024 to engage over 400 first-time voters in informed discussions on key policy issues. By employing stratified random sampling, the project ensured a representative cohort reflecting the demographic and geographic diversity of 18-year-olds across the United States, including varied political affiliations and regional backgrounds. The national Deliberative Poll was a collaboration between the Close Up Foundation, Helena, Generation Lab, and academic institutions including Stanford University's Deliberative Democracy Lab and USC's Neely Center. Deliberative sessions encouraged meaningful engagement and dialogue, highlighting the potential for structured discourse to enhance civic participation among young voters. This paper provides methodological insights and best practices for assembling representative samples of young people, offering guidance for future efforts to strengthen youth engagement in democratic processes.