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 | Red or Blue State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 77.8% | 464,000 | 80.5% | Democrat |
| 2 | Minnesota | 74.3% | 3,436,000 | 79.2% | Swing State |
| 3 | Montana | 72.6% | 641,000 | 76.6% | Republican |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 72.4% | 843,000 | 76.6% | Democrat |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 71.7% | 3,391,000 | 74.7% | Swing State |
| 6 | Oregon | 71.3% | 2,590,000 | 76.9% | Democrat |
| 7 | Maine | 70.5% | 832,000 | 76.5% | Democrat |
| 8 | Mississippi | 69.2% | 1,749,000 | 79.1% | Republican |
| 9 | Maryland | 68.7% | 3,383,000 | 73.4% | Democrat |
| 10 | Iowa | 68.5% | 1,742,000 | 73.8% | Republican |
| 11 | Ohio | 68.5% | 6,733,000 | 75.2% | Swing State |
| 12 | New Jersey | 68.2% | 5,008,000 | 73.6% | Democrat |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 68.2% | 7,337,000 | 74.1% | Swing State |
| 14 | Vermont | 67.5% | 365,000 | 72% | Democrat |
| 15 | Virginia | 66% | 4,541,000 | 70.1% | Democrat |
| 16 | Kentucky | 65.3% | 2,450,000 | 72.4% | Republican |
| 17 | North Dakota | 65.3% | 429,000 | 75.2% | Republican |
| 18 | Arizona | 64.7% | 3,878,000 | 68.8% | Swing State |
| 19 | Missouri | 64.5% | 3,388,000 | 73.1% | Republican |
| 20 | Washington | 64.3% | 4,029,000 | 67.2% | Democrat |
| 21 | Michigan | 64.1% | 5,513,000 | 70.8% | Swing State |
| 22 | Wyoming | 64.1% | 296,000 | 67.9% | Republican |
| 23 | Delaware | 63.8% | 542,000 | 70.8% | Democrat |
| 24 | Tennessee | 63.3% | 3,742,000 | 70.8% | Republican |
| 25 | Colorado | 62.7% | 2,993,000 | 66.2% | Democrat |
| 26 | Illinois | 62.7% | 6,590,000 | 68.2% | Democrat |
| 27 | Alaska | 62.4% | 383,000 | 72.6% | Republican |
| 28 | Nebraska | 62.2% | 971,000 | 67.7% | Republican |
| 29 | Idaho | 61.6% | 900,000 | 65.7% | Republican |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 61.3% | 575,000 | 68.5% | Democrat |
| 31 | South Carolina | 61.3% | 2,713,000 | 67.7% | Republican |
| 32 | Georgia | 60.9% | 5,233,000 | 65.2% | Swing State |
| 33 | Connecticut | 60.5% | 1,850,000 | 66.6% | Democrat |
| 34 | Kansas | 60.1% | 1,398,000 | 64.8% | Republican |
| 35 | Hawaii | 59.7% | 673,000 | 63.8% | Democrat |
| 36 | Utah | 59.7% | 1,468,000 | 63.3% | Republican |
| 37 | Alabama | 59.6% | 2,527,000 | 67% | Republican |
| 38 | Louisiana | 59.4% | 2,286,000 | 66.5% | Republican |
| 39 | Indiana | 58.9% | 3,412,000 | 67% | Republican |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 58.9% | 3,546,000 | 64.3% | Democrat |
| 41 | North Carolina | 58.9% | 5,161,000 | 63.6% | Swing State |
| 42 | New Mexico | 58.3% | 1,028,000 | 63.9% | Democrat |
| 43 | South Dakota | 57.7% | 437,000 | 66.3% | Republican |
| 44 | New York | 57% | 9,370,000 | 62% | Democrat |
| 45 | Florida | 56.4% | 10,495,000 | 60.9% | Swing State |
| 46 | Nevada | 56.3% | 1,455,000 | 60.6% | Swing State |
| 47 | California | 55.7% | 18,001,000 | 59.3% | Democrat |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 55.5% | 1,884,000 | 64% | Republican |
| 49 | Texas | 55.3% | 13,343,000 | 62.1% | Republican |
| 50 | West Virginia | 55.3% | 928,000 | 66.4% | Republican |
| 51 | Arkansas | 51.9% | 1,361,000 | 59.6% | Republican |
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Swing State
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
Republican
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Swing State
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
Swing State
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
Democrat
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
Republican
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
Democrat
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Swing State
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
Swing State
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Swing State
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Swing State
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
Republican
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
Swing State
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
Republican
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
Democrat
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
Swing State
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
Democrat
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Republican
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Democrat
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
Republican
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
Swing State
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
Republican
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