Introduction
Voter turnout, the percentage of registered voters who casted their ballots in an election, is a barometer to measure the extent of civic engagement in American democracy. Due to the winner-take-it-all electoral college system, voters in a deep blue-or red state have tended to be less incentivized to vote. History however attests that a single vote has determined a number of key election results as early as in 1800 — when Thomas Jefferson won the presidential election by one vote.
A political melee on whether to prioritize efforts to increase voter turnout has yet persisted in Congress with only two legislations designed to promote voting passed as law since 2000. Federal lawmakers in 2002 agreed to streamline the administrative process in voting systems to grant easy access for people to vote. Then in 2006, another law was passed to extend the duration of protection for marginalized voters. Since then, dozens of legislations intended to foster voter turnout have been filed and have all been stalled at the introduction stage.
Despite lagging legislative efforts in passing voting laws, the voter turnout rate in a quadrennial presidential election has steadily increased, with more than two-third of registered voters casting ballots in the 2020 election, an over 10% increase from that of 2000. Meanwhile, a Gallup poll says almost three-quarter of Americans showed “quite a lot” of thought about the election in 2020, an about 20% increase from 2000.
Learn for yourself how states compare to one another in terms of voter turnout rate by surveying the data in the charts.
| # | State | Voter Turnout | Registered Voters | Percentage of Registered Voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 77.8% | 464,000 | 80.5% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 74.3% | 3,436,000 | 79.2% |
| 3 | Montana | 72.6% | 641,000 | 76.6% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 72.4% | 843,000 | 76.6% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 71.7% | 3,391,000 | 74.7% |
| 6 | Oregon | 71.3% | 2,590,000 | 76.9% |
| 7 | Maine | 70.5% | 832,000 | 76.5% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 69.2% | 1,749,000 | 79.1% |
| 9 | Maryland | 68.7% | 3,383,000 | 73.4% |
| 10 | Iowa | 68.5% | 1,742,000 | 73.8% |
| 11 | Ohio | 68.5% | 6,733,000 | 75.2% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 68.2% | 5,008,000 | 73.6% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 68.2% | 7,337,000 | 74.1% |
| 14 | Vermont | 67.5% | 365,000 | 72% |
| 15 | Virginia | 66% | 4,541,000 | 70.1% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 65.3% | 2,450,000 | 72.4% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 65.3% | 429,000 | 75.2% |
| 18 | Arizona | 64.7% | 3,878,000 | 68.8% |
| 19 | Missouri | 64.5% | 3,388,000 | 73.1% |
| 20 | Washington | 64.3% | 4,029,000 | 67.2% |
| 21 | Michigan | 64.1% | 5,513,000 | 70.8% |
| 22 | Wyoming | 64.1% | 296,000 | 67.9% |
| 23 | Delaware | 63.8% | 542,000 | 70.8% |
| 24 | Tennessee | 63.3% | 3,742,000 | 70.8% |
| 25 | Colorado | 62.7% | 2,993,000 | 66.2% |
| 26 | Illinois | 62.7% | 6,590,000 | 68.2% |
| 27 | Alaska | 62.4% | 383,000 | 72.6% |
| 28 | Nebraska | 62.2% | 971,000 | 67.7% |
| 29 | Idaho | 61.6% | 900,000 | 65.7% |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 61.3% | 575,000 | 68.5% |
| 31 | South Carolina | 61.3% | 2,713,000 | 67.7% |
| 32 | Georgia | 60.9% | 5,233,000 | 65.2% |
| 33 | Connecticut | 60.5% | 1,850,000 | 66.6% |
| 34 | Kansas | 60.1% | 1,398,000 | 64.8% |
| 35 | Hawaii | 59.7% | 673,000 | 63.8% |
| 36 | Utah | 59.7% | 1,468,000 | 63.3% |
| 37 | Alabama | 59.6% | 2,527,000 | 67% |
| 38 | Louisiana | 59.4% | 2,286,000 | 66.5% |
| 39 | Indiana | 58.9% | 3,412,000 | 67% |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 58.9% | 3,546,000 | 64.3% |
| 41 | North Carolina | 58.9% | 5,161,000 | 63.6% |
| 42 | New Mexico | 58.3% | 1,028,000 | 63.9% |
| 43 | South Dakota | 57.7% | 437,000 | 66.3% |
| 44 | New York | 57% | 9,370,000 | 62% |
| 45 | Florida | 56.4% | 10,495,000 | 60.9% |
| 46 | Nevada | 56.3% | 1,455,000 | 60.6% |
| 47 | California | 55.7% | 18,001,000 | 59.3% |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 55.5% | 1,884,000 | 64% |
| 49 | Texas | 55.3% | 13,343,000 | 62.1% |
| 50 | West Virginia | 55.3% | 928,000 | 66.4% |
| 51 | Arkansas | 51.9% | 1,361,000 | 59.6% |
Voter Turnout by State
Alabama
Voter Turnout
59.6%
Ranked in the US
#37
2,527,000
Ranked in the US
#25
Percentage of Registered Voters
67%
Ranked in the US
#30
Alaska
Voter Turnout
62.4%
Ranked in the US
#27
383,000
Ranked in the US
#49
Percentage of Registered Voters
72.6%
Ranked in the US
#16
Arizona
Voter Turnout
64.7%
Ranked in the US
#18
3,878,000
Ranked in the US
#14
Percentage of Registered Voters
68.8%
Ranked in the US
#23
Arkansas
Voter Turnout
51.9%
Ranked in the US
#51
1,361,000
Ranked in the US
#35
Percentage of Registered Voters
59.6%
Ranked in the US
#50
California
Voter Turnout
55.7%
Ranked in the US
#47
18,001,000
Ranked in the US
#1
Percentage of Registered Voters
59.3%
Ranked in the US
#51
Colorado
Voter Turnout
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#25
2,993,000
Ranked in the US
#22
Percentage of Registered Voters
66.2%
Ranked in the US
#36
Connecticut
Voter Turnout
60.5%
Ranked in the US
#33
1,850,000
Ranked in the US
#29
Percentage of Registered Voters
66.6%
Ranked in the US
#32
Delaware
Voter Turnout
63.8%
Ranked in the US
#23
542,000
Ranked in the US
#45
Percentage of Registered Voters
70.8%
Ranked in the US
#19
District of Columbia
Voter Turnout
77.8%
Ranked in the US
#1
464,000
Ranked in the US
#46
Percentage of Registered Voters
80.5%
Ranked in the US
#1
Florida
Voter Turnout
56.4%
Ranked in the US
#45
10,495,000
Ranked in the US
#3
Percentage of Registered Voters
60.9%
Ranked in the US
#48
Georgia
Voter Turnout
60.9%
Ranked in the US
#32
5,233,000
Ranked in the US
#9
Percentage of Registered Voters
65.2%
Ranked in the US
#38
Hawaii
Voter Turnout
59.7%
Ranked in the US
#35
673,000
Ranked in the US
#42
Percentage of Registered Voters
63.8%
Ranked in the US
#43
Idaho
Voter Turnout
61.6%
Ranked in the US
#29
900,000
Ranked in the US
#39
Percentage of Registered Voters
65.7%
Ranked in the US
#37
Illinois
Voter Turnout
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#26
6,590,000
Ranked in the US
#7
Percentage of Registered Voters
68.2%
Ranked in the US
#25
Indiana
Voter Turnout
58.9%
Ranked in the US
#39
3,412,000
Ranked in the US
#18
Percentage of Registered Voters
67%
Ranked in the US
#31
Iowa
Voter Turnout
68.5%
Ranked in the US
#10
1,742,000
Ranked in the US
#31
Percentage of Registered Voters
73.8%
Ranked in the US
#12
Kansas
Voter Turnout
60.1%
Ranked in the US
#34
1,398,000
Ranked in the US
#34
Percentage of Registered Voters
64.8%
Ranked in the US
#39
Kentucky
Voter Turnout
65.3%
Ranked in the US
#16
2,450,000
Ranked in the US
#26
Percentage of Registered Voters
72.4%
Ranked in the US
#17
Louisiana
Voter Turnout
59.4%
Ranked in the US
#38
2,286,000
Ranked in the US
#27
Percentage of Registered Voters
66.5%
Ranked in the US
#33
Maine
Voter Turnout
70.5%
Ranked in the US
#7
832,000
Ranked in the US
#41
Percentage of Registered Voters
76.5%
Ranked in the US
#7
Maryland
Voter Turnout
68.7%
Ranked in the US
#9
3,383,000
Ranked in the US
#21
Percentage of Registered Voters
73.4%
Ranked in the US
#14
Massachusetts
Voter Turnout
58.9%
Ranked in the US
#40
3,546,000
Ranked in the US
#16
Percentage of Registered Voters
64.3%
Ranked in the US
#40
Michigan
Voter Turnout
64.1%
Ranked in the US
#21
5,513,000
Ranked in the US
#8
Percentage of Registered Voters
70.8%
Ranked in the US
#20
Minnesota
Voter Turnout
74.3%
Ranked in the US
#2
3,436,000
Ranked in the US
#17
Percentage of Registered Voters
79.2%
Ranked in the US
#2
Mississippi
Voter Turnout
69.2%
Ranked in the US
#8
1,749,000
Ranked in the US
#30
Percentage of Registered Voters
79.1%
Ranked in the US
#3
Missouri
Voter Turnout
64.5%
Ranked in the US
#19
3,388,000
Ranked in the US
#20
Percentage of Registered Voters
73.1%
Ranked in the US
#15
Montana
Voter Turnout
72.6%
Ranked in the US
#3
641,000
Ranked in the US
#43
Percentage of Registered Voters
76.6%
Ranked in the US
#5
Nebraska
Voter Turnout
62.2%
Ranked in the US
#28
971,000
Ranked in the US
#37
Percentage of Registered Voters
67.7%
Ranked in the US
#27
Nevada
Voter Turnout
56.3%
Ranked in the US
#46
1,455,000
Ranked in the US
#33
Percentage of Registered Voters
60.6%
Ranked in the US
#49
New Hampshire
Voter Turnout
72.4%
Ranked in the US
#4
843,000
Ranked in the US
#40
Percentage of Registered Voters
76.6%
Ranked in the US
#6
New Jersey
Voter Turnout
68.2%
Ranked in the US
#12
5,008,000
Ranked in the US
#11
Percentage of Registered Voters
73.6%
Ranked in the US
#13
New Mexico
Voter Turnout
58.3%
Ranked in the US
#42
1,028,000
Ranked in the US
#36
Percentage of Registered Voters
63.9%
Ranked in the US
#42
New York
Voter Turnout
57%
Ranked in the US
#44
9,370,000
Ranked in the US
#4
Percentage of Registered Voters
62%
Ranked in the US
#47
North Carolina
Voter Turnout
58.9%
Ranked in the US
#41
5,161,000
Ranked in the US
#10
Percentage of Registered Voters
63.6%
Ranked in the US
#44
North Dakota
Voter Turnout
65.3%
Ranked in the US
#17
429,000
Ranked in the US
#48
Percentage of Registered Voters
75.2%
Ranked in the US
#8
Ohio
Voter Turnout
68.5%
Ranked in the US
#11
6,733,000
Ranked in the US
#6
Percentage of Registered Voters
75.2%
Ranked in the US
#9
Oklahoma
Voter Turnout
55.5%
Ranked in the US
#48
1,884,000
Ranked in the US
#28
Percentage of Registered Voters
64%
Ranked in the US
#41
Oregon
Voter Turnout
71.3%
Ranked in the US
#6
2,590,000
Ranked in the US
#24
Percentage of Registered Voters
76.9%
Ranked in the US
#4
Pennsylvania
Voter Turnout
68.2%
Ranked in the US
#13
7,337,000
Ranked in the US
#5
Percentage of Registered Voters
74.1%
Ranked in the US
#11
Rhode Island
Voter Turnout
61.3%
Ranked in the US
#30
575,000
Ranked in the US
#44
Percentage of Registered Voters
68.5%
Ranked in the US
#24
South Carolina
Voter Turnout
61.3%
Ranked in the US
#31
2,713,000
Ranked in the US
#23
Percentage of Registered Voters
67.7%
Ranked in the US
#28
South Dakota
Voter Turnout
57.7%
Ranked in the US
#43
437,000
Ranked in the US
#47
Percentage of Registered Voters
66.3%
Ranked in the US
#35
Tennessee
Voter Turnout
63.3%
Ranked in the US
#24
3,742,000
Ranked in the US
#15
Percentage of Registered Voters
70.8%
Ranked in the US
#21
Texas
Voter Turnout
55.3%
Ranked in the US
#49
13,343,000
Ranked in the US
#2
Percentage of Registered Voters
62.1%
Ranked in the US
#46
Utah
Voter Turnout
59.7%
Ranked in the US
#36
1,468,000
Ranked in the US
#32
Percentage of Registered Voters
63.3%
Ranked in the US
#45
Vermont
Voter Turnout
67.5%
Ranked in the US
#14
365,000
Ranked in the US
#50
Percentage of Registered Voters
72%
Ranked in the US
#18
Virginia
Voter Turnout
66%
Ranked in the US
#15
4,541,000
Ranked in the US
#12
Percentage of Registered Voters
70.1%
Ranked in the US
#22
Washington
Voter Turnout
64.3%
Ranked in the US
#20
4,029,000
Ranked in the US
#13
Percentage of Registered Voters
67.2%
Ranked in the US
#29
West Virginia
Voter Turnout
55.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
928,000
Ranked in the US
#38
Percentage of Registered Voters
66.4%
Ranked in the US
#34
Wisconsin
Voter Turnout
71.7%
Ranked in the US
#5
3,391,000
Ranked in the US
#19
Percentage of Registered Voters
74.7%
Ranked in the US
#10
Wyoming
Voter Turnout
64.1%
Ranked in the US
#22
296,000
Ranked in the US
#51
Percentage of Registered Voters
67.9%
Ranked in the US
#26