How do democratic protests during regime transitions shape long-term electoral participation? This study argues that by participating in democratic protests, individuals develop trust that others will join, which creates bonds of social trust that endure beyond the transition period and contribute to higher electoral engagement post-transition. Leveraging previously untapped survey data from the 1989 German Democratic Republic (GDR) revolution and an instrumental variable approach based on Stasi records, this study finds that former protest participants are significantly more likely to vote post-transition, with turnout rates closely paralleling those in West Germany. Social trust emerges as a critical mechanism driving this effect, with lasting influences extending to participants’ children, who also display heightened electoral participation. Additionally, regions with higher protest intensity show elevated levels of electoral turnout post-transition. These findings underscore democratic protests as powerful catalysts of enduring civic engagement, highlighting their role in fostering democratic resilience and stability in post-transition societies.