5.2 Voter Turnout

Voter turnout is the share of eligible people who vote. In presidential elections since 2004, roughly 58 to 67 percent of eligible citizens have voted; 2020 had about 66 percent, the highest in over a century. In midterm elections, when there's no presidential race, turnout has ranged from under 40 percent to about 50 percent in recent decades. U.S. turnout is lower than in many other democracies, some of which, like Australia, require citizens to vote.

States run elections, so rules vary widely, and rules affect how easy it is to vote:

• Voter registration: most states require you to register before Election Day, sometimes weeks before. Some allow same-day registration, which tends to raise turnout. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (“Motor Voter”) lets people register when getting a driver's license. Many states also offer online registration, and some use automatic registration, signing up eligible citizens when they deal with state agencies unless they opt out.
• Voter ID laws: some states require photo ID at the polls. Supporters say ID laws prevent fraud and build confidence in elections; opponents say they make voting harder for people less likely to have ID, such as some elderly, poor or young voters.
• Early and mail voting: many states let people vote before Election Day or by mail, adding convenience.
• Polling access: the hours polls are open, the number of polling places and workers, and absentee-ballot rules vary by state. Long lines and short hours make voting harder.
• Election timing: federal elections fall on a Tuesday in November, a workday for most people, and the U.S. holds many elections, which can cause voter fatigue.

Political efficacy is the belief that your participation matters. Internal efficacy is believing you understand politics well enough to take part. External efficacy is believing government will respond to people like you. People with high efficacy vote more; people who think “my vote doesn't count” vote less.

• Party identification: a person's lasting attachment to a party. It's the strongest predictor of how someone votes.
• Issues: positions on topics like the economy, health care or immigration matter more when a voter cares deeply about them.
• Candidate characteristics: experience, personality, perceived honesty and leadership skills. These matter more for voters with weak party ties.
• Demographics: race, religion, gender, region and education are associated with different voting patterns, though individuals vary.