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.