New Report by Nonprofit VOTE Report Ranks Voter Turnout in All 50 U.S. States

Just 36.6% of eligible citizens voted in the 2014 midterm elections, the lowest in a midterm since World War II, but turnout varied across states by as much as 30 percentage points. A new report by Nonprofit VOTE, America Goes to the Polls 2014, ranks voter turnout in all 50 states and looks at major factors underlying voter participation. It also details successful strategies employed by high voter turnout states.

For example, states with Election Day Registration (EDR) had the highest voter participation rates averaging 48%, 12 points higher than the turnout in states without it. Seven of the top 10 turnout states have EDR. None of the bottom 10 turnout states have EDR.  

The report recommends additional policy changes that could improve the registration process and foster greater voter participation. These include pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds, implementing best practices in early voting, allowing ex-offenders to regain their voting rights and using nonpartisan redistricting commissions to oversee decennial.

The report’s ranking is based on the certified counts of total votes cast as a percentage of their state’s voting eligible population.

Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote and is the largest source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services.