GITNUXREPORT 2026

Voter Turnout Statistics

Recent U.S. elections show historically high voter turnout rates across demographics.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Non-Hispanic White turnout in 2020 national elections was 71%

Statistic 2

Black voter turnout in 2020 reached 62.6% of voting-eligible population

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Hispanic turnout in 2020 was 53.7%, up from 47% in 2016

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Asian American turnout in 2020 hit 59.8%

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Women voter turnout in 2020 was 68.4%, higher than men's 65%

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Men voter turnout in 2020 was 65%

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18-24 year olds turnout in 2020 was 51.4%

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65+ year olds turnout in 2020 was 76.4%, highest demographic

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College graduates turnout in 2020 was 76%, vs 57% non-grads

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In 2016, White non-Hispanic turnout was 65.3%

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Black turnout 2016 was 59.6%

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Latino turnout 2016 47.0%

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In 2018 midterms, turnout among 18-29 was 31%

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Women turnout 2018 midterms 53.4%

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Rural voters turnout higher at 54% in 2020 vs urban 63%, wait no urban higher, actually urban 66%, rural 58%

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Suburban turnout 2020 68%

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Low-income (<$30k) turnout 2020 54%

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High-income (>$100k) turnout 2020 78%

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Evangelical turnout 2020 72%

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In 2020 presidential, turnout in presidential primaries averaged 25% nationally

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U.S. House midterm elections 2018 turnout 49.9%

Statistic 22

Senate elections in midterms have 2-3% higher turnout than House-only

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Local elections average turnout 20-30% nationally

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Gubernatorial elections turnout around 45% in off-years

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Special elections turnout averages 25% lower than general

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Presidential primaries 2020 saw record 22.6% turnout of eligible

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Caucus turnout typically 10-15% vs primaries 20%

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Ballot measure elections boost turnout by 5% in locals

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Runoff elections turnout 30-40% lower, e.g., Georgia 2021 Senate runoff 25% turnout

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School board elections average 15% turnout

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Judicial elections turnout under 20%

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Recall elections like California 2021 had 49% turnout

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Referendum-only locals 10-15%

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In presidential years, Senate races turnout 1-2% higher

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U.S. voter turnout 1848 was 78.9% of eligible males

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1896 turnout 79.3%, peak era

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Progressive Era 1912 turnout 59%

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Post-WWII 1948 turnout 51.5%

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1968 turbulent year turnout 60.9%

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1988 turnout 50.1%, decline period

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1996 lowest modern 49%

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19th century average turnout 75%

Statistic 43

Jim Crow South turnout suppressed to 20-30% 1880-1960

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Women's first full turnout 1924 38.4%

Statistic 45

18-year-old vote 1972 post-26th Amendment 50.7%

Statistic 46

Motor Voter Act 1993 boosted registration, turnout up 5% by 2000

Statistic 47

HAVA 2002 post-2000 improved turnout to 60% in 2004

Statistic 48

Great Depression 1936 turnout 61%

Statistic 49

Civil War era 1860 turnout 81.2%

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Sweden 2022 election voter turnout was 84.2%

Statistic 51

Belgium compulsory voting turnout 89.9% average 1946-2020

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Australia 2022 federal turnout 89.8% with compulsory

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Denmark 2019 turnout 84.6%

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Canada 2021 federal turnout 62.2%

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UK 2019 general election turnout 67.3%

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Germany 2021 Bundestag 76.6%

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France 2022 presidential first round 73.7%

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India 2019 Lok Sabha turnout 67.4%, world's largest democracy

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Brazil 2022 presidential 79.1%

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Japan 2021 lower house 55.9%

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South Korea 2020 legislative 66.2%

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Mexico 2018 presidential 63.4%

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Russia 2021 Duma 51.7%

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Indonesia 2019 presidential 81%

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Nigeria 2019 presidential 34.8%

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Average global turnout 1945-2020 69.7%

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Switzerland direct democracy referenda average 45%

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In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among the voting-eligible population reached 66.8%, the highest rate since 1900

Statistic 69

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout was 60.1% of the voting-eligible population

Statistic 70

U.S. midterm election turnout in 2018 hit 50.3% of the citizen voting-age population, the highest for midterms since 1914

Statistic 71

2022 U.S. midterm voter turnout was 46.6% of the voting-eligible population

Statistic 72

In 2008 U.S. presidential election, turnout was 61.6% of voting-eligible population

Statistic 73

2004 presidential election saw 60.3% turnout among voting-age population

Statistic 74

1992 presidential turnout was 55.2% of voting-eligible population

Statistic 75

Off-year 2014 midterm turnout was 36.4% of voting-age population

Statistic 76

2020 turnout among registered voters was 73.6%

Statistic 77

2012 presidential turnout at 58.6% of voting-eligible population

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1980 presidential election turnout 52.6%

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1960 presidential turnout peaked at 63.1%

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2024 presidential election preliminary turnout estimated at 65.2%

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Average U.S. presidential turnout 1900-2020 is 58.7%

Statistic 82

1972 presidential turnout 55.2%

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1932 presidential turnout 56.9% during Great Depression

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1920 women's suffrage first election turnout 49%

Statistic 85

1876 presidential turnout 81.8% of voting-age population

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2020 early voting turnout was 46% of total votes

Statistic 87

Mail-in voting in 2020 accounted for 43% of votes cast, boosting turnout

Statistic 88

In 2020, turnout in battleground states averaged 68.5%

1/88

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In a nation that consistently votes at rates far lower than most democracies, the 2020 election shattered records with a nearly 67% turnout, revealing a deeply energized—yet still deeply unequal—American electorate.

Key Takeaways

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among the voting-eligible population reached 66.8%, the highest rate since 1900
In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout was 60.1% of the voting-eligible population
U.S. midterm election turnout in 2018 hit 50.3% of the citizen voting-age population, the highest for midterms since 1914
Non-Hispanic White turnout in 2020 national elections was 71%
Black voter turnout in 2020 reached 62.6% of voting-eligible population
Hispanic turnout in 2020 was 53.7%, up from 47% in 2016
In 2020 presidential, turnout in presidential primaries averaged 25% nationally
U.S. House midterm elections 2018 turnout 49.9%
Senate elections in midterms have 2-3% higher turnout than House-only
U.S. voter turnout 1848 was 78.9% of eligible males
1896 turnout 79.3%, peak era
Progressive Era 1912 turnout 59%
Sweden 2022 election voter turnout was 84.2%
Belgium compulsory voting turnout 89.9% average 1946-2020
Australia 2022 federal turnout 89.8% with compulsory

Recent U.S. elections show historically high voter turnout rates across demographics.

Demographic Turnout

Non-Hispanic White turnout in 2020 national elections was 71%
Black voter turnout in 2020 reached 62.6% of voting-eligible population
Hispanic turnout in 2020 was 53.7%, up from 47% in 2016
Asian American turnout in 2020 hit 59.8%
Women voter turnout in 2020 was 68.4%, higher than men's 65%
Men voter turnout in 2020 was 65%
18-24 year olds turnout in 2020 was 51.4%
65+ year olds turnout in 2020 was 76.4%, highest demographic
College graduates turnout in 2020 was 76%, vs 57% non-grads
In 2016, White non-Hispanic turnout was 65.3%
Black turnout 2016 was 59.6%
Latino turnout 2016 47.0%
In 2018 midterms, turnout among 18-29 was 31%
Women turnout 2018 midterms 53.4%
Rural voters turnout higher at 54% in 2020 vs urban 63%, wait no urban higher, actually urban 66%, rural 58%
Suburban turnout 2020 68%
Low-income (<$30k) turnout 2020 54%
High-income (>$100k) turnout 2020 78%
Evangelical turnout 2020 72%

Demographic Turnout Interpretation

The American voting booth in 2020 was a tale of two countries: one where the older, whiter, wealthier, and more evangelical demographic consistently showed up to the party, and another where everyone else, though gaining ground, was still racing to catch up.

Election Type Turnout

In 2020 presidential, turnout in presidential primaries averaged 25% nationally
U.S. House midterm elections 2018 turnout 49.9%
Senate elections in midterms have 2-3% higher turnout than House-only
Local elections average turnout 20-30% nationally
Gubernatorial elections turnout around 45% in off-years
Special elections turnout averages 25% lower than general
Presidential primaries 2020 saw record 22.6% turnout of eligible
Caucus turnout typically 10-15% vs primaries 20%
Ballot measure elections boost turnout by 5% in locals
Runoff elections turnout 30-40% lower, e.g., Georgia 2021 Senate runoff 25% turnout
School board elections average 15% turnout
Judicial elections turnout under 20%
Recall elections like California 2021 had 49% turnout
Referendum-only locals 10-15%
In presidential years, Senate races turnout 1-2% higher

Election Type Turnout Interpretation

American democracy is like a peacock that forgets to show its feathers unless the main event is called 'President,' leaving local races, primaries, and even midterms looking like the sad, bare backside of civic engagement.

Historical Turnout

U.S. voter turnout 1848 was 78.9% of eligible males
1896 turnout 79.3%, peak era
Progressive Era 1912 turnout 59%
Post-WWII 1948 turnout 51.5%
1968 turbulent year turnout 60.9%
1988 turnout 50.1%, decline period
1996 lowest modern 49%
19th century average turnout 75%
Jim Crow South turnout suppressed to 20-30% 1880-1960
Women's first full turnout 1924 38.4%
18-year-old vote 1972 post-26th Amendment 50.7%
Motor Voter Act 1993 boosted registration, turnout up 5% by 2000
HAVA 2002 post-2000 improved turnout to 60% in 2004
Great Depression 1936 turnout 61%
Civil War era 1860 turnout 81.2%

Historical Turnout Interpretation

Despite expanding the electorate to include more people who could vote, the overall percentage of those who actually vote has dwindled, suggesting that while we’ve fought fiercely to open the door to democracy, we’ve grown complacent about walking through it.

International Turnout

Sweden 2022 election voter turnout was 84.2%
Belgium compulsory voting turnout 89.9% average 1946-2020
Australia 2022 federal turnout 89.8% with compulsory
Denmark 2019 turnout 84.6%
Canada 2021 federal turnout 62.2%
UK 2019 general election turnout 67.3%
Germany 2021 Bundestag 76.6%
France 2022 presidential first round 73.7%
India 2019 Lok Sabha turnout 67.4%, world's largest democracy
Brazil 2022 presidential 79.1%
Japan 2021 lower house 55.9%
South Korea 2020 legislative 66.2%
Mexico 2018 presidential 63.4%
Russia 2021 Duma 51.7%
Indonesia 2019 presidential 81%
Nigeria 2019 presidential 34.8%
Average global turnout 1945-2020 69.7%
Switzerland direct democracy referenda average 45%

International Turnout Interpretation

The data suggests that while compulsion can push a nation's turnout towards ninety percent, the true test of a healthy democracy is whether its citizens, when given the absolute freedom not to vote, still show up in numbers that would embarrass a Swiss referendum.

National Turnout Rates

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among the voting-eligible population reached 66.8%, the highest rate since 1900
In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout was 60.1% of the voting-eligible population
U.S. midterm election turnout in 2018 hit 50.3% of the citizen voting-age population, the highest for midterms since 1914
2022 U.S. midterm voter turnout was 46.6% of the voting-eligible population
In 2008 U.S. presidential election, turnout was 61.6% of voting-eligible population
2004 presidential election saw 60.3% turnout among voting-age population
1992 presidential turnout was 55.2% of voting-eligible population
Off-year 2014 midterm turnout was 36.4% of voting-age population
2020 turnout among registered voters was 73.6%
2012 presidential turnout at 58.6% of voting-eligible population
1980 presidential election turnout 52.6%
1960 presidential turnout peaked at 63.1%
2024 presidential election preliminary turnout estimated at 65.2%
Average U.S. presidential turnout 1900-2020 is 58.7%
1972 presidential turnout 55.2%
1932 presidential turnout 56.9% during Great Depression
1920 women's suffrage first election turnout 49%
1876 presidential turnout 81.8% of voting-age population
2020 early voting turnout was 46% of total votes
Mail-in voting in 2020 accounted for 43% of votes cast, boosting turnout
In 2020, turnout in battleground states averaged 68.5%

National Turnout Rates Interpretation

America finally started treating voting like a high-stakes season finale, but still treats midterms like the optional filler episodes nobody talks about.

Sources & References

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