We’ve all seen the "I Voted" stickers plastered on laptops and sweaters, but once the noise of the campaign dies down, a more interesting question remains. How much of the US population voted, really? Not just the people you saw in line at the local library, but the actual percentage of the country that showed up to have their say.
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of millions. 156 million. 154 million. These numbers are so large they almost lose their meaning. But when you break it down, the story of the 2024 election isn't just about who won; it's about who decided to stay home.
The Raw Data: Breaking Down the 2024 Turnout
In the 2024 presidential election, roughly 65.3% of the citizen voting-age population actually cast a ballot. That’s according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s official figures released in early 2025. If you prefer the total count, we're talking about roughly 156.3 million people.
Wait.
That number is actually the second-highest total turnout in American history in terms of sheer volume. Only the 2020 election saw more people—about 158 million—head to the polls. But here’s the kicker: even though more people are living in the U.S. now, the percentage of people voting actually slipped a bit compared to four years ago.
In 2020, we saw a record-shattering 66.6% turnout. That was the highest the U.S. had seen since 1900. By comparison, 2024's 65.3% feels like a slight exhale after a very deep breath. It’s still high by historical standards, though. Honestly, before 2020, you’d have to go back to the Kennedy-Nixon era of 1960 to see numbers hovering in this 63% to 65% range.
Why 100% Participation is a Myth
You might wonder why it’s never 100%. Or even 90%.
The U.S. population is roughly 340 million people. Right off the bat, you have to subtract everyone under 18. Then you have to account for non-citizens. When you look at the "Voting-Eligible Population" (VEP)—which excludes non-citizens and, in many states, people with certain felony convictions—the denominator gets smaller.
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In 2024, the VEP was estimated at about 244.7 million people.
When 156 million out of 244 million show up, you get that 63-65% figure. It means roughly one out of every three people you see walking down the street who could have voted, simply didn't.
The State-by-State Gap
If you live in Minnesota, you probably feel like everyone votes. You're almost right.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are consistently the overachievers of American democracy, often hitting turnout rates above 76%.
On the flip side, states like Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Arkansas often struggle to break the 55% mark. Why the gap? It’s a mix of things:
- Ease of voting: States with automatic registration or robust mail-in options usually see higher numbers.
- Competitiveness: If you live in a "safe" state where the outcome feels like a foregone conclusion, the motivation to wait in line drops.
- Demographics: Older, wealthier populations vote at much higher rates than younger, lower-income groups.
Who Actually Showed Up?
The "who" is just as important as the "how many."
Women have been outvoting men in every presidential election since 1980. In 2024, that trend held firm. About 66.9% of eligible women voted, compared to 63.7% of men.
Age remains the biggest predictor of whether someone will show up. It’s almost a straight line up.
The 18-to-24 crowd? Only about 47.7% voted.
The 65-plus crowd? A massive 74.7%.
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This is why political ads often focus on Social Security and Medicare rather than student loan interest or first-time homebuyer credits. The "silver Tsunami" at the polls is real, and it’s consistent.
Education and the Turnout Divide
There is a massive, growing chasm in participation based on college degrees.
If you have an advanced degree, you’re part of the most active voting bloc in the country, with over 82% turnout.
For those with a high school diploma but no college, that number falls to about 52%.
This isn't just a "2024 thing." It’s a structural reality of American life. People with higher formal education often have more flexible jobs that allow them to take time off to vote, or they feel more "connected" to the bureaucratic systems that voting represents.
The Mystery of the "Missing" Voters
One of the most talked-about stats from 2024 was the drop in turnout among specific groups compared to 2020.
For instance, Hispanic voter turnout saw a notable decline, dropping nearly 6 percentage points from the previous cycle.
Why did this happen? Some analysts point to "voter fatigue." Others suggest that without the unique pressures of the 2020 pandemic—which led to massive expansions in mail-in voting—some people found it harder to make it to the polls.
Interestingly, the people who didn't vote were almost evenly split in their preferences. A Pew Research study found that if nonvoters had been forced to choose, 44% would have gone for Trump and 40% for Harris. This debunks the old myth that "if everyone voted, Democrats would always win." In the current landscape, the non-voting population is just as divided as the rest of us.
How We Vote Has Changed Forever
One thing that didn't go back to "normal" after the pandemic was how we cast those ballots.
Before 2020, Election Day was the main event. Now, it’s more like "Election Month."
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In 2024, the breakdown looked like this:
- In-person on Election Day: 39.6%
- In-person before Election Day: 30.7%
- By mail: 29.0%
Basically, 60% of voters are now choosing to vote before the actual Tuesday in November. This shift has fundamentally changed how campaigns spend money and how news organizations report results.
Making Sense of the Percentage
When someone asks how much of the US population voted, the "correct" answer depends on which group you're talking about.
- Of the total population (340m): Roughly 46% voted.
- Of the citizen voting-age population: Roughly 65% voted.
- Of the registered voters: Roughly 89-90% voted.
The last one is the most deceptive. Most people who go through the trouble of registering actually do end up voting. The real "leak" in the system is between being a citizen and actually getting on the voter rolls.
Moving Beyond the Booth
If you're looking at these numbers and wondering how to impact future turnout, it’s not just about the big presidential years. Midterm elections (like the one coming in 2026) usually see turnout drop into the 40% or 50% range.
Next Steps to Understand Your Local Impact:
- Check your registration status: Even if you voted in 2024, many states purge rolls or change precinct boundaries. Use Vote.org to verify your status.
- Look at local turnout: Presidential numbers are easy to find, but look up your city council or school board election results from last year. You’ll often find that these critical roles are decided by as little as 10-15% of the population.
- Volunteer as a poll worker: The "ease of voting" depends on having enough people to staff the stations. Most counties are perpetually short-staffed, leading to the long lines that discourage turnout.
Understanding the math of who shows up is the first step in realizing why the country looks the way it does. The 65% who voted in 2024 are the ones steering the ship, while the other 35% are essentially passengers in a boat they didn't help navigate.