History and Government > U.S. Elections

Participation in Elections for President and U.S. Representatives, 1930–2006

(in thousands)

Year Population
of voting age		 Percent of
voting-age
population
that voted
for President		 Percent of
voting-age
population
that voted for
U.S. Representative
1930 73,623 n.a. 33.7
1932 75,768 52.5 49.7
1934 77,997 n.a. 41.4
1936 80,174 56.9 53.5
1938 82,354 n.a. 44.0
1940 84,728 58.9 55.4
1942 86,465 n.a. 32.5
1944 85,654 56.0 52.7
1946 92,659 n.a. 37.1
1948 95,573 51.1 48.1
1950 98,134 n.a. 41.1
1952 99,929 61.6 57.6
1954 102,075 n.a. 41.7
1956 104,515 59.3 55.9
1958 106,447 n.a. 43.0
1960 109,672 62.8 58.5
1962 112,952 n.a. 45.4
1964 114,090 61.9 57.8
1966 116,638 n.a. 45.4
1968 120,285 60.9 55.1
1970 124,498 n.a. 43.5
1972 140,777 55.2 50.7
1974 146,338 n.a. 35.9
1976 152,308 53.5 48.9
1978 158,369 n.a. 34.9
1980 163,945 52.8 47.6
1982 169,643 n.a. 38.0
1984 173,995 53.3 47.8
1986 177,922 n.a. 33.5
1988 181,956 50.3 44.9
1990 185,812 n.a. 33.1
1992 189,524 55.1 50.8
1994 193,650 n.a. 36.6
1996 196,928 49.0 45.8
1998 198,228 n.a. 32.9
2000 205,815 50.2 46.3
2002 215,077 n.a. 34.3
2004 220,377 55.5 51.4
2006 225,662 n.a. 35.7
n.a. = not applicable
Notes: Prior to 1960, excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Population 18 years and over beginning 1972; prior to 1972, population 21 years and over except population 18 years and over in Georgia since 1944, 18 years and over in Kentucky since 1956, 19 years and over in Alaska since 1959, and 20 years and over in Hawaii since 1959. Beginning in 1972, includes votes cast for the delegate in the District of Columbia. See also National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2006.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States and Federal Election Commission.

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National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2006 U.S. Elections Voter Participation in Presidential Elections, 1824–1928
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