When the dust finally settled on the November 2020 election, the tally didn't just represent a winner and a loser. It represented a massive, historic shift in how Americans engage with the ballot box. If you’ve ever wondered just how many total people voted in 2020, the answer is a staggering 158.4 million.
That is not a small number. It’s actually the highest raw number of voters in the history of the United States. To put that in perspective, about 137.5 million people voted in 2016. That means in just four years, an additional 21 million people decided they needed to have their say. Honestly, it's the kind of jump that political scientists will be picking apart for decades.
The Official Breakdown of 2020 Voter Turnout
You’ve probably heard different percentages tossed around—66%, 67%, sometimes even higher. The reason for the confusion usually boils down to how you define "eligible."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and official Federal Election Commission (FEC) data, the 2020 election saw a 66.8% turnout of the citizen voting-age population. That is the highest turnout the U.S. has seen since 1900. It's basically a century-level event.
Who Actually Cast the Ballots?
Joe Biden ended up with 81,283,501 votes, while Donald Trump secured 74,223,975 votes.
These weren't just the two highest totals in history; they were a reflection of a deeply mobilized country. But it wasn't just the big names. Third-party candidates like Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) and Howie Hawkins (Green) also drew in over 2 million combined votes.
- Joe Biden: 81,283,501 (51.3%)
- Donald Trump: 74,223,975 (46.8%)
- Other Candidates: Approx. 2.9 million (1.9%)
The sheer volume was so high it actually strained some local systems. Remember those long lines? Or the weeks of counting mail-in ballots? That was the physical reality of 158 million people trying to be heard at once.
Why the 2020 Surge Happened
You can't talk about how many total people voted in 2020 without talking about how they voted. The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.
States were forced to get creative. They mailed out ballots to everyone. They opened drop boxes. They extended early voting. The result? A "nontraditional" voting explosion. About 69% of voters used these methods instead of walking into a booth on a Tuesday in November.
It turns out, when you make it easier to vote, people actually do it.
Demographic Shifts and Surprises
It wasn't just the method; it was the people. Youth turnout (ages 18–24) spiked to roughly 51.4%. While that might sound low compared to seniors, it was a massive jump from 2016.
Women also outpaced men again. About 68.4% of eligible women voted compared to 65% of men. There’s a persistent gap there that has existed for years, and 2020 only solidified it.
State-by-State Highlights
If you look at the map, some states acted like they were on a mission. Minnesota, a perennial leader in these things, hit a nearly 80% turnout rate. On the flip side, states like Arkansas stayed lower, around 54%.
The "Swing States" were where the energy was most palpable.
- Arizona: Jumped from 60% in 2016 to over 66%.
- Pennsylvania: Saw a massive increase in mail-in participation.
- New Jersey: Actually led the nation in some metrics with a 78.3% turnout of registered voters.
Common Misconceptions About the Tally
One thing that gets lost in the noise is the idea of "Voter Fraud." Extensive reviews, including those by the Brennan Center for Justice and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), found that the 2020 election was actually the "most secure in American history."
Errors do happen—people move, names are misspelled—but the idea that millions of "fake" votes were in that 158 million total has been debunked by every major audit and court case. Honestly, the real story isn't about fake votes; it’s about the millions of real people who showed up for the first time.
What You Can Do Next
Understanding these numbers isn't just a history lesson. It's a roadmap for future elections. If you want to stay engaged or see how your specific area compared, here are the best steps to take:
- Check Your Registration: Even if you voted in 2020, states purge rolls often. Use Vote.gov to ensure you're still active.
- Look Up Local Results: The "158 million" is a national figure, but your local board of elections has the "precinct-level" data that shows exactly how your neighbors voted.
- Volunteer: High turnout requires more workers. Most states are always looking for non-partisan poll workers for the next cycle.
The 2020 election proved that the American electorate is far more active than we previously thought. It just took a unique set of circumstances to prove it.