Mid-Hudson Valley

Community Engagement

Voter Participation Rate

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Voter Participation Rate

What does this measure?

The percentage of the voting-age population (18 and over) that actually 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 the region performing?

In the 2020 presidential election, 64% of the region's eligible voters voted, up from 2016 (57%), the turnout rate in 2020 was 7 points higher. Columbia County had the highest rate of voter participation in the region (72% in 2020), followed by Putnam (70%). Sullivan and Orange counties had the lowest turnout in 2020 (59% and 61% respectively).

Notes about the data

Voter turnout was calculated using votes cast in the top race on the ballot. Turnout was not reported in non-presidential, non-gubernatorial years since data were not readily available. Comparable national data are only available in presidential years.

Voter Participation Rate

	2000	2002	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016	2018	2020
Region	55%	38%	58%	40%	59%	39%	53%	34%	57%	47%	64%
Columbia County	60%	48%	64%	51%	64%	48%	58%	42%	63%	59%	72%
Dutchess County	53%	36%	56%	38%	59%	38%	53%	33%	56%	47%	63%
Greene County	58%	43%	59%	46%	58%	42%	52%	40%	57%	48%	64%
Orange County	53%	35%	56%	35%	57%	37%	51%	33%	56%	43%	61%
Putnam County	61%	40%	63%	44%	63%	43%	57%	36%	62%	49%	70%
Sullivan County	52%	36%	54%	36%	53%	36%	47%	30%	52%	41%	59%
Ulster County	58%	42%	62%	44%	62%	42%	54%	37%	57%	53%	67%
NYS (excluding NYC)	57%	39%	59%	40%	59%	39%	53%	33%	57%	45%	64%
U.S.	50%		56%		57%		54%		55%		62%

Source: Federal Elections Commission, New York State Board of Elections
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

	2000	2002	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016	2018	2020
Region	441,492	312,760	490,375	337,506	510,986	345,568	465,763	306,039	504,674	425,730	575,445
Columbia County	28,979	23,040	31,326	25,015	31,857	24,264	29,059	21,279	31,152	29,223	35,781
Dutchess County	112,614	77,348	124,520	85,539	133,619	88,378	123,424	77,738	132,234	113,253	151,889
Greene County	21,308	16,170	22,613	17,831	22,870	16,851	20,649	15,946	22,325	19,151	25,320
Orange County	127,970	88,121	145,718	92,974	153,649	100,047	140,625	91,147	156,666	122,484	173,843
Putnam County	42,814	28,961	46,729	32,349	47,465	32,749	44,248	28,042	48,865	38,513	55,320
Sullivan County	28,954	20,548	31,292	21,018	31,509	21,851	28,413	18,083	30,484	24,535	35,132
Ulster County	78,853	58,572	88,177	62,780	90,017	61,428	79,345	53,804	82,948	78,571	98,160
NYS (excluding NYC)	4,691,713	3,275,873	4,988,613	3,348,376	5,080,049	3,354,090	4,616,428	2,894,378	5,026,959	4,009,747	5,624,033
U.S.	105,405,100		122,295,345		131,257,328		129,067,662		136,669,237		158,383,403

Source: Federal Elections Commission, New York State Board of Elections
Notes: National data only available for presidential years.

Sponsored by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Community Foundation of
Orange and Sullivan, Dyson Foundation and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region

Data analysis and platform provided by CGR