Voter turnout in United States presidential elections
Updated: Wikipedia source
Voter turnout in U.S. elections is the total number of votes cast by the voting age population (VAP), or more recently, the voting eligible population (VEP), divided by the entire voting eligible population. It is usually displayed as a percentage, showing which percentage of eligible voters actually voted. The historical trends in voter turnout in the United States presidential elections have been shaped by
the gradual expansion of voting rights from the initial restriction to white male property owners aged 21 or older in the early years of the country's independence to all citizens aged 18 or older in the mid-20th century; policies that have made it easier or harder for eligible people to register and vote; the competitiveness of elections; and the mobilization efforts of parties, candidates and other organizations. The composition of voter turnout has also changed with increased use of early voting and mail voting. Approximately 161 million people were registered to vote in the 2020 presidential election and 158,427,986 ballots were submitted (96.3% of registered voters). Roughly 81 million eligible voters did not cast a ballot.