A Record Voter Turnout in 2020
Created by Drew Smith, John Miller, Michael King and Jacob Tschida for UMD Jour 3555
Around the Red, White, and Blue (click for interactive link)
With a pandemic continuing, social justice issues, a shattered economy, a record amount of Americans cast a ballot on November 3, 2020. According to Town and Country, over 100 million ballots were cast early. In addition, The New York Times reported that 160 million Americans cast a ballot where 66.7% of eligible voters cast a ballot.-
A Record for Voter Turnout in Minnesota
2020 tallied a record for voter turnout in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, something that isn’t unusual in Minnesota. According to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, 79.87% of eligible voters cast their ballot before or on election day. Simon called the statistic, a “modern-day” record. The final tally consisted of about 3.1 million votes for President, with Joe Biden winning about 52% of the vote and 45% going to Donald Trump. Minnesota also led the nation in 2016 and 2018. According to Minnesota Public Radio, 1.7 million votes were cast by November 1, 2020. In Minnesota, ballots can be cast 45 days before the election.
This record turnout also came amidst an eleventh-hour ruling that would separate votes that were received after the deadline. This was a 2–1 decision made by the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Reuters.
A Record for Duluth
According to Fox 21 News in Duluth, 80% of registered voters cast a ballot. Clerk Chelsea Helmer noted that 47% of voters cast their ballot early in the city in 2020. As reported by the Duluth News Tribune, the city had 54,160 early votes counted in 2020, which is up from 16,302 early votes. According to Politico, Joe Biden won St. Louis County with 67,104 votes over President Trump with 49, 017 votes. Biden took 56.8% of the vote to Trump’s 41.1%. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won St. Louis County by a margin of 11%.
Worth Noting
Precinct 10 had the lowest voter turnout in 2020 and 2012, but not 2016.
Precinct 19 has consistently had a lower voter turnout rate, as it includes Downtown Duluth and Canal Park.
Voter Turnout in Duluth from the 2016 Election
Voter Turnout in Duluth from the 2012 Election
