2020 presidential election had highest turnout rate in 120 years

Preliminary estimates indicate the 2020 presidential election had the highest turnout rate since 1900, according to the United States Elections Project.

University of Florida political science professor Michael McDonald, who maintains the data project, said Wednesday morning that 160 million people voted in Tuesday’s election, for a turnout rate of 66.9 percent. McDonald said the turnout rate was the highest in 120 years, with a 73.7 percent turnout rate in 1900.

“That is not a typo. The 2020 presidential election had the highest turnout rate in 120 years,” McDonald said on Twitter.

“There is still a fair amount of guesswork involving outstanding ballots to be counted,” he added. “I will continue to refine these estimates over the coming weeks.”

That is not a typo. The 2020 presidential election had the highest turnout rate in 120 years. There is still a fair amount of guesswork involving outstanding ballots to be counted. I will continue to refine these estimates over the coming weeks

— Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) November 4, 2020

As of Wednesday morning, the race between President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden was too close to call, with results still outstanding in key states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.