Community Life
Voter Participation Rate


Voter Participation Rate

What does this measure?

The percentage of the voting-age population (18 and over) that voted in an election.

Why is this important?

Voting is a basic responsibility of all citizens and an indication of the citizenry's interest in and commitment to participating in our political process.

How is our county doing?

In Essex County, voter participation was 68% in the 2020 presidential elections and 51% in the 2018 midterm elections. The 2020 presidential election participation rate was slightly higher than the rates in all presidential elections since 2000.

Voter turnout in Essex County in 2020 was a bit higher than the state (66%). Wenham had the lowest participation rate at 66%, and Newbury and West Newbury the highest, at 97% and 100% respectively.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Voter participation in Essex County during the 2020 presidential elections was higher than Lake, IL and Westchester, NY (63% and 62% respectively), and similar to the rate in Middlesex, MA at 67%.

Notes about the data

Rates were calculated using Census estimates of the population 18 and over. National data only available for presidential years.

Voter Participation Rate
20002002200420062008201020122014201620182020
Essex County, MA58%47%61%47%64%47%63%43%64%51%68%
Amesbury54%44%63%48%68%49%66%44%70%58%78%
Beverly59%48%62%49%65%50%65%45%67%56%72%
Gloucester56%46%63%51%67%49%66%46%68%56%76%
Haverhill49%39%54%40%59%42%59%39%62%47%62%
Lawrence29%23%32%24%37%24%40%25%43%27%37%
Lynn41%32%42%31%45%31%47%30%49%35%47%
Methuen53%41%56%41%60%43%59%38%62%46%65%
Newburyport72%61%76%60%80%63%80%59%82%72%89%
Peabody60%50%63%51%65%49%65%46%67%53%69%
Salem52%43%55%42%58%41%58%38%63%54%67%
Andover71%58%74%57%76%59%75%51%75%62%81%
Boxford78%68%85%68%88%74%90%63%88%75%95%
Danvers64%51%66%52%68%51%68%46%72%58%77%
Essex78%65%82%67%84%66%79%59%81%71%90%
Georgetown71%56%76%60%81%62%81%55%81%66%91%
Groveland69%58%77%62%81%63%81%57%81%68%90%
Hamilton70%60%78%62%83%64%79%57%82%70%91%
Ipswich70%58%76%61%79%61%79%57%81%71%89%
Lynnfield78%67%81%63%82%65%83%57%80%66%87%
Manchester79%68%84%69%88%70%89%66%89%77%93%
Marblehead78%66%80%66%84%68%84%64%86%75%94%
Merrimac66%54%73%57%76%57%73%52%76%65%87%
Middleton55%46%59%52%64%50%64%45%68%54%77%
Nahant73%64%77%65%81%67%80%65%81%71%91%
Newbury73%62%79%66%84%69%85%63%85%75%97%
North Andover66%54%68%52%73%54%72%48%72%58%79%
Rockport70%60%76%63%80%64%82%63%83%73%92%
Rowley68%57%74%60%79%62%80%58%82%67%91%
Salisbury57%44%61%45%64%47%63%43%64%52%75%
Saugus61%49%63%48%63%49%62%45%65%50%69%
Swampscott69%59%74%59%77%65%77%61%77%67%83%
Topsfield79%70%84%70%87%73%89%67%88%75%94%
Wenham57%50%61%48%61%48%59%42%60%51%66%
West Newbury82%67%85%69%91%73%88%66%89%77%100%
Middlesex County, MA58%48%61%47%63%47%62%42%63%53%67%
Lake County, IL17%37%57%38%59%40%56%38%56%47%63%
Westchester County, NY55%37%57%39%59%37%53%31%56%44%62%
Massachusetts56%45%59%45%62%45%61%41%62%50%66%
United States50%56%57%54%55%62%

Source: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, New York State Board of Elections, Illinois State Board of Elections and Federal Elections Commission
Notes: Rates were calculated using Census estimates of the population 18 and over. National data only available for presidential years.




Number of People who Voted
20002002200420062008201020122014201620182020
Essex County, MA313,374258,718334,862260,488356,071269,472368,102258,959392,789317,264424,599
Amesbury6,9625,6237,9375,9998,5716,2348,5235,9459,4027,82610,462
Beverly18,89415,53119,67715,61420,61415,76921,02014,79422,41318,97324,704
Gloucester13,87911,26015,07612,05115,68411,46615,68911,17016,70813,90218,313
Haverhill22,46318,03224,72618,17627,13819,78028,12318,78930,12923,31632,572
Lawrence14,87211,94516,58112,76719,66013,24522,05214,30424,53715,54923,367
Lynn27,62721,31428,13620,66429,95621,31132,25720,83234,18924,70536,026
Methuen17,52914,01919,38014,35021,10915,32621,67214,36923,58417,81726,096
Newburyport9,8728,34210,4308,19510,9448,63511,0638,28511,58410,29712,897
Peabody23,38920,03225,17920,45826,44120,43527,11619,52328,54922,66330,261
Salem16,99714,28218,14013,86619,31613,65919,84713,42922,18318,96124,139
Andover16,51313,73817,41013,48518,34414,26318,83013,21119,57216,53321,901
Boxford4,4473,8664,8113,8264,9814,2535,1933,6955,2084,4705,582
Danvers12,72110,41913,33710,53514,05010,73714,63810,16015,60612,70417,062
Essex1,9451,6532,1131,7362,2091,7602,1801,6482,3042,0422,528
Georgetown3,8413,1424,2613,4044,7463,6904,9473,4075,1024,2115,615
Groveland3,1462,6943,5942,9143,8673,0474,0022,8724,1253,4924,566
Hamilton4,2283,6044,5953,5874,7283,6034,5293,3024,7624,1195,028
Ipswich7,1225,9617,8066,2828,1676,3838,4136,1498,8467,8189,728
Lynnfield6,5985,7256,9125,3726,9845,6527,2925,3857,6936,4218,400
Manchester3,1662,7263,3142,6883,4212,7523,5432,6633,6233,1763,841
Marblehead11,87210,11712,1129,86312,46010,17012,7049,82013,15811,62114,343
Merrimac3,0382,5263,4132,6633,5812,7153,6042,6423,9353,4284,421
Middleton3,3762,8873,8273,4844,3683,5084,6563,4365,2114,3075,905
Nahant2,2191,9362,2591,8742,3141,9142,3201,8862,3782,1012,533
Newbury3,7743,2324,0923,3724,3293,5394,4813,3684,6234,1445,041
North Andover13,17110,91413,85510,61815,06211,25215,34310,62816,39113,38818,122
Rockport4,5003,8184,6573,7344,6853,6784,7743,7074,9764,3605,309
Rowley2,8162,4173,1512,5623,4492,7233,5942,7023,9053,2714,237
Salisbury3,6112,8203,9692,9114,2223,1644,3143,0384,8103,9925,596
Saugus12,97110,53713,47110,12613,50410,59413,82110,07814,71811,37315,902
Swampscott7,7056,5518,0476,3128,1916,8728,3006,6668,8857,8939,670
Topsfield3,5253,1473,7333,0983,8593,2264,0923,1834,2143,6144,487
Wenham2,0981,8492,2711,7962,3451,8672,3731,7122,4782,1322,647
West Newbury2,4872,0592,5902,1062,7722,2502,7972,1612,9882,6453,298
Middlesex County, MA663,624547,665692,287538,444730,490557,974757,380531,679808,630678,178869,347
Lake County, IL76,085173,888275,295186,305299,105204,927287,493200,827299,040250,739334,177
Westchester County, NY378,961258,104398,532274,690417,496265,063387,880229,387424,055333,071468,773
Massachusetts2,734,0062,220,3012,927,4552,243,8353,102,9952,319,9633,184,1962,186,7893,378,8012,752,6653,658,005
United States105,405,100122,295,345131,257,328129,067,662136,669,237158,383,403

Source: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, New York State Board of Elections, Illinois State Board of Elections and Federal Elections Commission
Notes: National data only available for presidential years.
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INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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