Voter turnout nationally during the 2020 Presidential Election was 66%—the highest since 1900. But a recent analysis from The Union of Concerned Scientists of voter turnout by precinct in 11 battleground counties found clear racial disparities, driven in part by differences in election resources & voter communication in individual precincts & counties. The findings are presented through an interactive map and also available in more fun forms on twitter and Instagram. The full report, Race and Representation in Battleground Counties: Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout and Ballot Rejections in the 2020 Election, is worth the read.
As summarized by the authors:
“The results show that 2020 turnout was highest in majority-White precincts and lowest in majority-Black and majority-Hispanic precincts.”
[At the same time,] “Many majority-Black precincts turned out at rates higher than the average majority-White precinct in 2020. Similarly, turnout rates in some majority-Hispanic precincts were close to the average turnout in majority-White precincts. ”
Poverty explains much of the difference, but the authors conclude that:
“While inequalities in voter turnout are more persistent and rooted in deeper social inequities, democratic capacity can be cultivated even in hostile conditions. Local civic organizations can also benefit from greater data transparency and data sharing in partnership with local election administrators.”
With a focus on large and diverse communities within electorally pivotal states, the report looks at:
- Maricopa County, AZ
- Fulton County, GA
- Wayne County, MI
- Columbus, Durham, and Mecklenburg Counties, NC
- Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties, OH
- Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties, PA
- Milwaukee County, WI