Numbers are usually boring. But the final vote count 2020 presidential election isn't just a spreadsheet of figures; it is a record of a country that, quite frankly, showed up like never before.
We saw 158.4 million people cast a ballot. That’s a massive jump. To put it in perspective, about 17 million more people voted in 2020 than in 2016. It was the highest voter turnout since 1900, reaching 66.8% of the voting-age population. Basically, two-thirds of the country decided they had something to say.
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The Raw Data: Biden, Trump, and the Rest
When all the dust settled and every state certified their results, the popular vote gap was pretty wide. Joe Biden pulled in 81,283,501 votes. That is 51.3% of the total. He became the first person in American history to break the 80-million-vote barrier.
Donald Trump didn't exactly have a small showing, either. He grabbed 74,223,975 votes, or 46.8%. It’s kind of wild to think that he actually received more votes than any sitting president in history, yet it still wasn't enough to bridge the 7-million-vote gap Biden created.
Then you have the "others." You've got Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) with about 1.8 million votes and Howie Hawkins (Green Party) at roughly 400,000. While they didn't win any states, in a tight race, those percentages always spark a lot of "what if" conversations among political junkies.
The Electoral College Split
Of course, the popular vote isn't the win condition in the U.S. system. The Electoral College is where the deal gets sealed.
- Joe Biden: 306
- Donald Trump: 232
Biden flipped five key states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. He also snagged one electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District. Trump kept 25 states and picked up one from Maine’s 2nd District.
It’s a bit ironic, really. 306 to 232 was the exact same margin Trump won by in 2016 (before a few faithless electors changed the final 2016 tally to 304-227).
Why the Turnout Exploded
You might wonder how a pandemic year resulted in more people voting, not fewer. Honestly, the answer is logistics. Because of COVID-19, states went all-in on mail-in ballots and early voting.
Nearly 70% of voters used "nontraditional" methods. In 2016, most people—about 60%—just walked into a booth on Tuesday. In 2020? Only about 30% did that.
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The Census Bureau noted that 43% of people voted by mail, while another 26% voted early in person. This shift made it easier for people with tight schedules or health concerns to get their voices heard.
Demographic Shifts
Youth turnout—those in the 18-34 range—jumped significantly, hitting 57% compared to 49% in 2016. But the real "MVPs" of turnout are always the seniors. Voters aged 65 and older turned out at a 74% clip.
We also saw huge spikes in participation from Asian American and Hispanic voters. For the first time, Hispanic voters made up more than 10% of the total electorate. That’s a big deal for future campaigns to think about.
The Battleground Squeeze
While the national gap was 7 million, the election was actually decided by a few thousand people in a handful of places.
In Arizona, Biden won by about 10,457 votes.
In Georgia, the margin was 11,779.
Wisconsin? Just 20,682 votes.
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If you add up the margins in the closest states that tipped the Electoral College—Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin—the total is around 43,000 votes. In an election where 158 million people participated, that is a razor-thin edge. It explains why the final vote count 2020 presidential election remained under such a microscope for months.
Practical Insights: What This Means for You
Understanding these numbers helps cut through the noise of political commentary. If you're looking to understand where the country is headed, keep these three things in mind:
- Turnout is the New Normal: The 2020 and 2024 cycles have proven that high participation isn't a fluke. Expect future elections to focus heavily on "getting out the vote" rather than just "swinging" independent voters.
- Logistics Matter: The ease of mail-in and early voting directly correlates with higher numbers. Whether those rules stay or go in your specific state will likely change who shows up.
- Margin of Error: When elections are decided by 0.1% or 0.2% in swing states, every local ballot measure and ground-level volunteer actually matters.
If you want to verify these numbers yourself, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the U.S. Census Bureau provide the full, certified datasets. It's a lot of scrolling, but the data is all there.
Next Steps:
- Check your registration status: Even if you voted in 2020, states frequently purge voter rolls. Visit Vote.gov to ensure you're still active.
- Research local deadlines: Mail-in ballot rules change frequently. Check your Secretary of State’s website for the current 2026 requirements.
- Look at the 2022 and 2024 trends: Compare the 2020 final counts with more recent midterm and general data to see if your specific county is shifting red or blue.