Civic participation is a key ingredient of a well-functioning democracy, and voter turnout is one measure of the public’s trust in government. But there’s evidence to suggest a growing lack of political engagement among Americans.
WalletHub Study
Presidential elections tend to get citizens more energized than midterms. In 2016, a record 137.5 million Americans voted.
Unfortunately, that number still only accounts for 61.4% of the voting-age population. The numbers are usually much worse for midterms, though 2018 had the highest turnout in decades, with 53.4% of eligible voters voting, compared to just 41.9% in 2014. Since the 2020 election is a presidential election, and a contentious one at that, we should expect to see relatively high turnout, though many people may choose to vote by mail rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among developed nations, the U.S. is rank 26 of 35 when it comes to voter turnout. That’s no surprise, considering most states don’t emphasize civic education in their schools. Large proportions of the public fail even simple knowledge tests such as knowing whether one’s state requires identification in order to vote.
But of the factors that affect participation rates, income is an important one, with implications on both voter turnout and public policy. In the 2016 presidential election, only 41.4% of registered voters with family incomes of under $10,000 voted. In comparison, 80.3% of those with family incomes of $150,000 or more voted.
With Election Day close at hand, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 11 key indicators of political engagement. They range from “percentage of registered voters in the 2016 presidential election” to “total political contributions per adult population.” Continue reading below for our findings, additional insight from political experts and a full description of our methodology.
Political Engagement in Florida (1=Most; 25=Avg.):
- 45th – % of Registered Voters in 2016 Presidential Election
- 28th – % of Electorate Who Voted in 2018 Midterm Elections
- 37th – % of Electorate Who Voted in 2016 Presidential Election
- 29th – Change in % of Electorate Who Actually Voted in 2016 Elections vs. 2012 Elections
- 20th – Total Political Contributions per Adult Population
- 20th – Civic Education Engagement
- 16th – Voter Accessibility Policies
