Honestly, the sheer volume of people who showed up for the 2020 election was kind of staggering. We aren't just talking about a "big" turnout here; we're talking about a historic, record-smashing event that basically rewrote the book on American civic participation. If you've ever wondered exactly how many people voted in the 2020 presidential election, the official certified tally from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) hits a massive 158,429,631 total votes.
That is a lot of ballots.
To put that in perspective, consider that in 2016, roughly 136.6 million people cast a vote. We saw a jump of nearly 22 million voters in just four years. It was the highest voter turnout by percentage since 1900—long before most people reading this (or their parents) were even born. Despite a global pandemic that was actively keeping people in their homes, Americans found a way to the polls, or more accurately, the polls found a way to them.
Breaking Down the 158 Million: How Many People Voted in the 2020 Presidential Election
The numbers can get a little dry if you just stare at a spreadsheet, but they tell a wild story about where the country was at. Joe Biden pulled in 81,283,501 votes, which is the most any presidential candidate has ever received in U.S. history. On the flip side, Donald Trump also broke records, earning 74,223,975 votes. That's more than any sitting president has ever received in a re-election bid.
It wasn't just the big names, though. About 2.9 million people—roughly 1.8% of the electorate—voted for third-party candidates like Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) or Howie Hawkins (Green Party).
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The Turnout Percentage Game
When experts talk about "turnout," they usually mean the percentage of the Voting Eligible Population (VEP). This is a fancy way of saying "citizens who are actually allowed to vote," excluding non-citizens or those ineligible due to state-specific felony laws.
In 2020, the turnout of the VEP was a whopping 66.8%.
Think about that. Two-thirds of everyone who could vote did vote. In 2016, that number was sitting around 60%. A nearly 7-point jump in a single cycle is basically unheard of in modern politics. The U.S. Census Bureau noted that this was the largest increase between consecutive presidential elections since they started tracking the data in 1964.
Why Did Everyone Suddenly Show Up?
You can't talk about how many people voted in the 2020 presidential election without talking about how they voted. The pandemic forced states to get creative. Many states expanded mail-in voting or extended early voting periods to prevent crowded gyms and libraries on a Tuesday in November.
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It worked.
According to Census data, about 69% of voters used what they call "nontraditional" methods. That means they either mailed in a ballot or walked into an early voting center before Election Day. In 2016, only about 40% of people did that. This shift basically turned "Election Day" into "Election Season."
Demographics That Moved the Needle
It's a common misconception that only one side saw a surge. In reality, turnout spiked across the board, but some groups really stood out:
- Young Voters: People aged 18–24 saw a massive surge, with over half (51.4%) of eligible youngsters casting a ballot. That’s a huge jump from the 43% we saw in 2016.
- The 65+ Crowd: Senior citizens remain the most reliable voters. About 76% of them voted, proving that retirement gives you plenty of time to research candidates.
- Asian American and Hispanic Voters: These groups saw some of the most significant percentage increases in participation compared to previous cycles.
The "Non-Voter" Mystery
Even with 158 million votes, roughly 80 million eligible Americans stayed home. Or, well, they just didn't vote. Why?
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When the Census Bureau asked, the most common answer wasn't "I couldn't get to the polls" or "I was afraid of COVID." It was actually a lot simpler: disinterest. About 10 million people said they just weren't interested in the election or didn't feel like their vote mattered. Only a tiny fraction—around 4.3% of registered non-voters—actually cited the pandemic as their primary reason for sitting it out.
What This Means for the Future
The 2020 election wasn't just a fluke; it set a new baseline. It showed that when you make it easier to vote—through mail-in ballots and early windows—people actually do it. It also highlighted the intense polarization of the country. People weren't just voting for someone; they were often voting against the other side, which is a powerful motivator.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into how these numbers impact your local area, the best next step is to visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s Voting and Registration portal. They have interactive maps where you can see the specific turnout for your state and demographic. Additionally, checking the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website will give you the granular, state-by-state certified totals if you want to see exactly how your specific community contributed to that 158 million.
Understanding these numbers helps cut through the noise. It shows a country that is deeply engaged, even when things are difficult. Whether that trend holds in the coming years is the big question every political scientist is currently trying to answer.
To wrap your head around the data, you should:
- Check your state's official Secretary of State website for a precinct-level breakdown of the 2020 results.
- Compare 2020 turnout to 2024 using the American Presidency Project’s historical database to see if the "high turnout" trend is becoming the new normal.
- Review the Census Bureau’s P20-585 report if you want the full deep-dive into the social and economic characteristics of the 2020 electorate.