The 2020 United States election was a historic event, marked by an unprecedented level of voter participation, with over 160 million people casting their ballots. This remarkable turnout begs the question: why did the 2020 election have so many more votes compared to previous years? The answer is multifaceted, stemming from years of preparation by election officials, the polarizing nature of the political landscape, and the unique circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Election officials didn’t just suddenly decide to hold an election in 2020. As Amy Cohen, Executive Director at the National Association of State Election Directors, explains, the groundwork for the 2020 election began years in advance. Recognizing vulnerabilities exposed in the previous presidential election, particularly concerning cybersecurity and voting equipment, officials proactively started addressing these issues as early as 2016. A significant improvement was the increased adoption of voting equipment with a paper record. Cohen noted that “something like 90% of voting equipment has a paper record which is a huge step in the right direction and a huge increase from 2016,” highlighting the dedication to enhancing election security and integrity well before the election year. This foresight and proactive approach laid a crucial foundation for handling the massive voter turnout that was to come.
One undeniable factor driving the surge in voter participation was the political climate and the figure of Donald Trump. Michael McDonald, who closely monitors voter turnout at the U.S. Elections Project, asserts, “There is no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump is the reason we saw record turnout in 2020. Whether you love him or hate him, he drives passion and drives people to vote.” Trump’s presidency was marked by strong opinions and высокой engagement from both supporters and detractors. This heightened political engagement was already evident in the 2018 midterm elections, which witnessed record turnout, a stark contrast to the historically low turnout of the 2014 midterms. This trend indicated a growing electorate deeply invested in the political process, setting the stage for the even larger turnout in 2020.
Voter turnout Wisconsin and Ohio primary elections during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced another layer of complexity and influence on the 2020 election. Initially, the pandemic caused significant concerns about the feasibility of holding safe and accessible elections. The primary elections in Wisconsin and Ohio, held during the first wave of the pandemic, served as a stark warning. McDonald expressed his concern about “the capacity of election officials to the November election and there was talk amongst election officials that there was potential that we could have a failure.” However, these challenges spurred innovation and adaptation.
Learning from the early primaries, state and election officials implemented crucial changes to ensure safe voting. These measures included delaying primary elections, establishing COVID-safe protocols at polling places, and significantly expanding access to vote-by-mail. These adaptations not only mitigated the risks of in-person voting during a pandemic but also broadened voting accessibility. The result was not a decrease in turnout, as initially feared, but a surge. As McDonald pointed out, “That was our first indication that we could be in for record [2020] turnout,” demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the electoral system.
Furthermore, the methods by which Americans voted in 2020 played a pivotal role in the record turnout. Early voting and voting by mail witnessed unprecedented levels of utilization. While early voting had been gaining popularity since the 1990s, the 2020 election shattered previous records, with 70% of voters casting their ballots early – 36 million in person and 77 million via mail. McDonald highlights the impact of mail-in voting, stating, “States that run all ballot mail in elections tend to have higher turnout rates… You can see that with the massive increase in states like Hawaii and Utah.” Conversely, states that restricted mail-in voting, like Texas and Tennessee, generally experienced lower turnout rates. The expansion of convenient and accessible voting options directly contributed to the increased participation.
In conclusion, the record voter turnout in the 2020 US election was not a singular event but the culmination of several converging factors. Years of meticulous preparation by election officials to enhance security and accessibility, the highly charged political environment fueled by Donald Trump’s presidency, and the adaptive changes to voting methods in response to the COVID-19 pandemic all played significant roles. The 2020 election underscores the importance of continuous investment in election infrastructure and the profound impact of both political engagement and accessible voting options on voter participation. The key takeaway from this historic election is clear: ensuring successful elections requires foresight, adaptability, and a commitment to making voting as accessible and secure as possible.
