Below you will find tables with voter turnout data for all general (even-numbered years) elections dating back to 1972. The data is split up between presidential and non-presidential election years, to more accurately compare them.
For a more complete picture of voter turnout in the 2016 General Election, click here to be taken to our statistical breakdown of the election. On this page you can find maps and charts detailing the methods by which individual counties voted. Specifically, these maps examine the percentage of each county's registered voter population that voted using a certain method (Such as: in-person, early voting, or absentee-by-mail.)
General Election Voter Turnout
Turnout Statistics for Presidential Election Years: 1972-Present
| Year |
Total
Registered Voters |
Total
Ballots Cast |
Turnout
Percentage |
| 1972 |
2,357,645 |
1,518,612 |
64.41% |
| 1976 |
2,553,717 |
1,677,906 |
65.70% |
| 1980 |
2,774,844 |
1,855,833 |
66.88% |
| 1984 |
3,270,933 |
2,239,051 |
68.45% |
| 1988 |
3,432,040 |
2,134,370 |
62.19% |
| 1992 |
3,817,380 |
2,611,850 |
68.40% |
| 1996 |
4,277,000 |
2,513,357 |
58.76% |
| 2000 |
5,122,123 |
3,015,964 |
58.88% |
| 2004 |
5,526,981 |
3,551,675 |
64.26% |
| 2008 |
6,262,566 |
4,354,052 |
69.53% |
| 2012 |
6,639,131 |
4,540,488 |
68.40% |
| 2016 |
6,914,248 |
4,769,640 |
68.98% |
Turnout Statistics for Non-Presidential Election Years: 1974-Present
| Year |
Total
Registered Voters |
Total
Ballots Cast |
Turnout
Percentage |
| 1974 |
2,279,646 |
1,020,367 |
44.76% |
| 1978 |
2,430,306 |
1,135,814 |
46.74% |
| 1982 |
2,674,787 |
1,330,630 |
49.75% |
| 1986 |
3,080,990 |
1,591,330 |
51.65% |
| 1990 |
3,347,635 |
2,068,904 |
61.80% |
| 1994 |
3,635,875 |
1,533,728 |
42.18% |
| 1998 |
4,700,799 |
2,012,149 |
42.80% |
| 2002 |
5,003,297 |
2,349,966 |
46.97% |
| 2006 |
5,567,424 |
2,036,451 |
36.58% |
| 2010 |
6,172,787 |
2,700,393 |
43.57% |
| 2014 |
6,628,521 |
2,918,052 |
44.02% |
Primary Election Voter Turnout
Primary Turnout Statistics for Presidential Years: 1988-Present
| Year |
Total
Registered Voters |
Total
Ballots Cast |
Turnout
Percentage |
| 1988 |
3,191,502 |
953,759 |
29.88% |
| 1992 |
3,527,187 |
975,446 |
27.66% |
| 1996 |
4,034,233 |
781,980 |
19.38% |
| 2000 |
4,930,310 |
868,593 |
17.62% |
| 2004 |
5,177,764 |
846,542 |
16.35% |
| 2008 |
5,765,303 |
2,182,215 |
36.86% |
| 2012 |
6,296,759 |
2,182,675 |
34.66% |
| 2016 |
6,511,143 |
2,323,590 |
35.69% |
Primary Turnout Statistics for Non-Presidential Years: 1990-Present
| Year |
Total
Registered Voters |
Total
Ballots Cast |
Turnout
Percentage |
| 1990 |
3,147,867 |
538,651 |
17.11% |
| 1994 |
3,544,095 |
430,838 |
12.16% |
| 1998 |
4,547,438 |
805,319 |
17.71% |
| 2002 |
4,999,736 |
1,060,667 |
21.21% |
| 2006 |
5,460,054 |
651,086 |
11.92% |
| 2010 |
6,105,831 |
880,128 |
14.41% |
| 2014 |
6,516,126 |
1,028,600 |
15.79% |