Why Your Vote Matters
Elections · Participation
Elections in the United States are decided by the people who show up. Most years, a large share of eligible citizens don’t, and some races come down to a handful of votes or a tie.
Below: what the numbers say, where they come from, what is on the ballot, and how to make sure your vote counts.
The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice …
Lyndon B. Johnson, signing the Voting Rights Act, 1965
Who votes, and who doesn’t
In the 2024 presidential election, 73.6% of U.S. citizens of voting age were registered to vote (about 174 million people), and 65.3% voted (about 154 million), according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s survey of voting and registration.
Put the other way: about 20 million people were registered but didn’t vote, and roughly 80 million eligible citizens didn’t cast a ballot at all. That is more than the number of votes cast for either major-party presidential candidate.
Turnout is usually lower in midterm years like 2026, when there is no presidential race at the top of the ballot, and lower still in local and primary elections.
Young voters
About 47% of Americans ages 18 to 29 voted in 2024, according to CIRCLE, the youth civic research center at Tufts University. Turnout varied widely by state: Minnesota ranked first in the nation for youth turnout, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
When a few votes decide
The certified margin in Florida, out of nearly 6 million votes cast in the state. Florida’s electoral votes decided the presidency (Federal Election Commission).
After a recount the two candidates were tied, and the seat was decided by drawing a name from a bowl on January 4, 2018. That seat helped decide which party controlled the chamber (Virginia Department of Elections).
The presidential margin in Michigan, out of about 5.6 million votes: roughly 1 vote in 70 (Michigan Department of State official results).
Close results are most common where the fewest people vote: city councils, school boards, state legislative seats and ballot measures. Those offices set property taxes, school calendars, policing policy and zoning.
What’s on your ballot
A general election ballot is much longer than the races at the top. In 2026 it includes every seat in the U.S. House, about a third of the Senate, and in many places governors, state legislators, judges, county and city offices, school boards and ballot questions. Your state and county election offices publish a sample ballot before Election Day.
Make your vote count
Check your registration
Make sure you’re registered at your current address. Deadlines differ by state; some states let you register on Election Day.
Find your polling place
Check its hours, or request a mail ballot early enough to return it on time.
Look at a sample ballot
Know every race and question before you go.
Bring what’s required
ID rules differ by state.
Every state’s official links are on its State page under the Voting tab, and Your Next Election shows the next date for your state. The official national starting point is vote.gov.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Presidential Election Voting and Registration Tables (April 30, 2025).
- CIRCLE, Tufts University, New Data: Nearly Half of Youth Voted in 2024 (April 2025).
- Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota ranks 1st in the nation in youth voter turnout.
- Federal Election Commission, Election results and voting information (Federal Elections 2000).
- Virginia Department of Elections, official results, 2017 House of Delegates.
- Michigan Department of State, official results, November 5, 2024.