More than 158 million Americans cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election, marking one of the highest voter turnouts in U.S. history as Donald Trump reclaimed the White House.
According to a new report submitted to Congress by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), over 211 million Americans were registered as active voters heading into the election. The EAC, which has been tracking federal election data for 20 years, called the report “the most comprehensive source of election administration statistics in the country.”
More than 85% of eligible voting-age citizens were registered last year — the highest percentage on record.
Turnout, Voting Methods, and Trends
Voter turnout reached 64.7% of the citizen voting-age population, the second-highest in the last five presidential cycles, trailing only the pandemic-fueled 2020 election.
While overall participation remained strong, the number of voters using mail-in ballots dropped significantly. In 2024, 30.3% of voters cast their ballots by mail — down from the record 43% in 2020. Still, the report notes this remains higher than pre-pandemic levels of mail voting.
In-person voting rebounded in 2024. Roughly 35.2% voted early in person, while 37.4% turned out on Election Day itself.
A Republican Sweep
The election saw a major Republican resurgence, with President Trump defeating incumbent Joe Biden to return to the White House. Republicans also regained control of the Senate and narrowly held their majority in the House of Representatives.
With the 2028 race already on the horizon, experts say the 2024 turnout and voting trends could shape how parties strategize in the coming years.
