Every four years in the United States, the electoral college system is used to determine the winner of the presidential election. In this system, each state has a fixed number of electors based on their population size, and (generally speaking) these electors then vote for their candidate with the most popular votes within their state or district. Since 1964, there have been 538 electoral votes available for presidential candidates, who need a minimum of 270 votes to win the election. Because of this system, candidates do not have to win over fifty percent of the popular votes across the country, but just win in enough states to receive a total of 270 electoral college votes. The use of this system is a source of debate in the U.S.; those in favor claim that it prevents candidates from focusing on the interests of urban populations, and must also appeal to smaller and less-populous states, and they say that this system preserves federalism and the two-party system. However, critics argue that this system does not represent the will of the majority of American voters, and that it encourages candidates to disproportionally focus on winning in swing states, where the outcome is more difficult to predict. Popular results From 1789 until 1820, there was no popular vote, and the President was then chosen only by the electors from each state. George Washington was unanimously voted for by the electorate, receiving one hundred percent of the votes in both elections. From 1824, the popular vote has been conducted among American citizens, to help electors decide who to vote for (although the 1824 winner was chosen by the House of Representatives, as no candidate received over fifty percent of electoral votes). Since 1924, the difference in the share of both votes has varied, with several candidates receiving over ninety percent of the electoral votes while only receiving between fifty and sixty percent of the popular vote. The highest difference was for Ronald Reagan in 1980, where he received just 50.4 percent of the popular vote, but 90.9 percent of the electoral votes. Unpopular winners Since 1824, there have been 49 elections, and in 18 of these the winner did not receive over fifty percent of the popular vote. In the majority of these cases, the winner did receive a plurality of the votes, however there have been five instances where the winner of the electoral college vote lost the popular vote to another candidate. The most recent examples of this were in 2000, when George W. Bush received roughly half a million fewer votes than Al Gore, and in 2016, where Hillary Clinton won approximately three million more votes than Donald Trump.

According to exit polling in *** key states of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, almost ********** of voters who had never attended college reported voting for Donald Trump. In comparison, a similar share of voters with ******** degrees reported voting for Kamala Harris.

Since 1964, voter turnout rates in U.S. presidential elections have generally fluctuated across all age groups, falling to a national low in 1996, before rising again in the past two decades. Since 1988, there has been a direct correlation with voter participation and age, as people become more likely to vote as they get older. Participation among eligible voters under the age of 25 is the lowest of all age groups, and in the 1996 and 2000 elections, fewer than one third of eligible voters under the age of 25 participated, compared with more than two thirds of voters over 65 years.

Graph and download economic data for Equity Market Volatility Tracker: Elections And Political Governance (EMVELECTGOVRN) from Jan 1985 to Jun 2025 about political, volatility, uncertainty, equity, government, and USA.

Context

According to information gathered from media report, the current wait for the U.S. presidential election result has already been the second longest since the 1960s. Only on one other occasion did the day after the election pass without a concession speech from the unsuccessful candidate, as our graphic shows.

The day after the infamous presidential election of 2000 actually featured a concession, to be precise, but one that was later taken back by Democratic candidate Al Gore. It wasn’t until 36 days and a recount in Florida later that Gore conceded for a final time, on December 13.

https://www.statista.com/chart/23396/days-after-the-us-presidential-election-until-the-unsuccessful-candidate-conceded/ by Katharina Buchholz, Nov 5, 2020

Content

Many presidential races of the last 60 years actually were a lot less close than this year’s election, allowing for them to be called before midnight East Coast time on Election Day. This was the case on the night of Richard Nixon’s re-election in 1972, for example. Democratic challenger George McGovern only won one state, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C., allowing for the race to be called early and McGovern to concede before midnight on the East Coast. Ronald Reagan’s re-election in 1984 was a landslide of similar proportions, with Democratic contender Walter Mondale taking only his home state Minnesota and Washington D.C.

Acknowledgements

Katharina Buchholz, Data Journalist

https://www.statista.com/chart/23396/days-after-the-us-presidential-election-until-the-unsuccessful-candidate-conceded/

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Inspiration

U.S. Elections 2020 and Covid-19

The 1860 Presidential Election in the United States was dominated by the issue of slavery, with the Democratic Party running a northern candidate who opposed slavery and southern candidate who opposed it.

Because of this issue the overall election results were split across the country. Abraham Lincoln's name did not appear on the ballot in many southern states, yet he still received forty percent of the popular vote, which was equal to almost sixty percent of the total electoral college votes. From the graph we can see that Stephen Douglas received the fewest electoral college votes with just twelve, however he received almost the same amount of popular votes as Breckenridge and Bell combined, who received 72 and 39 electoral votes respectively.

Dave Leip's election atlas data; available to UT faculty, students and staff; requires valid login with UTor ID. House election results data includes tabs for State, County, Town, Congressional District, Graphs, Party, Statistics, Candidates, Notes, Data sources and updates

This web map displays data from the voter registration database as the percent of registered voters by census tract in King County, Washington. The data for this web map is compiled from King County Elections voter registration data for the years 2013-2019. The total number of registered voters is based on the geo-location of the voter's registered address at the time of the general election for each year. The eligible voting population, age 18 and over, is based on the estimated population increase from the US Census Bureau and the Washington Office of Financial Management and was calculated as a projected 6 percent population increase for the years 2010-2013, 7 percent population increase for the years 2010-2014, 9 percent population increase for the years 2010-2015, 11 percent population increase for the years 2010-2016 & 2017, 14 percent population increase for the years 2010-2018 and 17 percent population increase for the years 2010-2019. The total population 18 and over in 2010 was 1,517,747 in King County, Washington. The percentage of registered voters represents the number of people who are registered to vote as compared to the eligible voting population, age 18 and over. The voter registration data by census tract was grouped into six percentage range estimates: 50% or below, 51-60%, 61-70%, 71-80%, 81-90% and 91% or above with an overall 84 percent registration rate. In the map the lighter colors represent a relatively low percentage range of voter registration and the darker colors represent a relatively high percentage range of voter registration. PDF maps of these data can be viewed at King County Elections downloadable voter registration maps. The 2019 General Election Voter Turnout layer is voter turnout data by historical precinct boundaries for the corresponding year. The data is grouped into six percentage ranges: 0-30%, 31-40%, 41-50% 51-60%, 61-70%, and 71-100%. The lighter colors represent lower turnout and the darker colors represent higher turnout. The King County Demographics Layer is census data for language, income, poverty, race and ethnicity at the census tract level and is based on the 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5 year Average provided by the United States Census Bureau. Since the data is based on a survey, they are considered to be estimates and should be used with that understanding. The demographic data sets were developed and are maintained by King County Staff to support the King County Equity and Social Justice program. Other data for this map is located in the King County GIS Spatial Data Catalog, where data is managed by the King County GIS Center, a multi-department enterprise GIS in King County, Washington. King County has nearly 1.3 million registered voters and is the largest jurisdiction in the United States to conduct all elections by mail. In the map you can view the percent of registered voters by census tract, compare registration within political districts, compare registration and demographic data, verify your voter registration or register to vote through a link to the VoteWA, Washington State Online Voter Registration web page.

The USA: Clean elections index: The latest value from 2023 is 0.897 index points, an increase from 0.845 index points in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.537 index points, based on data from 171 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1960 to 2023 is 0.854 index points. The minimum value, 0.686 index points, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 0.947 index points was recorded in 2009.

The Voter Participation indicator presents voter turnout in Champaign County as a percentage, calculated using two different methods.

In the first method, the voter turnout percentage is calculated using the number of ballots cast compared to the total population in the county that is eligible to vote. In the second method, the voter turnout percentage is calculated using the number of ballots cast compared to the number of registered voters in the county.

Since both methods are in use by other agencies, and since there are real differences in the figures that both methods return, we have provided the voter participation rate for Champaign County using each method.

Voter participation is a solid illustration of a community’s engagement in the political process at the federal and state levels. One can infer a high level of political engagement from high voter participation rates.

The voter participation rate calculated using the total eligible population is consistently lower than the voter participation rate calculated using the number of registered voters, since the number of registered voters is smaller than the total eligible population.

There are consistent trends in both sets of data: the voter participation rate, no matter how it is calculated, shows large spikes in presidential election years (e.g., 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) and smaller spikes in intermediary even years (e.g., 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). The lowest levels of voter participation can be seen in odd years (e.g., 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023).

This data primarily comes from the election results resources on the Champaign County Clerk website. Election results resources from Champaign County include the number of ballots cast and the number of registered voters. The results are published frequently, following each election.

Data on the total eligible population for Champaign County was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates for each year starting in 2005, when the American Community Survey was created. The estimates are released annually by the Census Bureau.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of providing the standard 1-year data products, the Census Bureau released experimental estimates from the 1-year data in 2020. This includes a limited number of data tables for the nation, states, and the District of Columbia. The Census Bureau states that the 2020 ACS 1-year experimental tables use an experimental estimation methodology and should not be compared with other ACS data. For these reasons, and because this data is not available for Champaign County, the eligible voting population for 2020 is not included in this Indicator.

For interested data users, the 2020 ACS 1-Year Experimental data release includes datasets on Population by Sex and Population Under 18 Years by Age.

Sources: Champaign County Clerk Historical Election Data; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (10 October 2024).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (5 October 2023).; Champaign County Clerk Historical Election Data; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (7 October 2022).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (8 June 2021).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (8 June 2021).; Champaign County Clerk Election History; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (13 May 2019).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (13 May 2019).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (6 March 2017).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2008 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2007 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2006 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2005 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B05003; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (15 March 2016).

According to exit polling in ten key states of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, ** percent of surveyed white voters reported voting for Donald Trump. In contrast, ** percent of Black voters reported voting for Kamala Harris.

This study contains files of Presidential election votes by State, County, and Town for each U.S. Presidential election year from 1964-2020. From Dave Leip, Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Note: MIT posted similar publicly available data beginning with 1976 at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/42MVDX

Information available in each dataset

If you want to know what each Presidential Election dataset contains before downloading it, for easy reference, the CCSS Data Services team prepared a spreadsheet summarizing the contents of each dataset. You can view them in this Summary of contents and codebooks spreadsheet.

The summary spreadsheet contains the following: 1. A matrix table summarizing the information available in each Presidential election dataset 2. Codebook describing the variables in the Presidential Election vote data at the State level 3. Codebook describing the variables in the Presidential Election vote data at the County level 4. Codebook describing the variables in the Presidential Election vote data at the Town level 5. A matrix table listing the statistics and graphs included in each Presidential election dataset

Labels of the variables in the State, County, and Town data, as well as a description of each tab in the dataset, are also available here: https://uselectionatlas.org/BOTTOM/DOWNLOAD/spread_national.html

Dave Leip's website

The Dave Leip website here: https://uselectionatlas.org/BOTTOM/store_data.php has additional years of data available going back to 1912 but at a fee.

Sometimes the files are updated by Dave Leip, and new versions are made available, but CCSS is not notified. If you suspect the file you want may be updated, please get in touch with CCSS Data Discovery and Replication Services. These files were last checked for updates in June 2024.

Note that file version numbers are those assigned to them by Dave Leip's Election Atlas. Please refer to the CCSS Data and Reproduction Archive Version number in your citations for the full dataset.

Data from Dave Leip's atlas of U.S. presidential elections separated by County. For use by University of Toronto students, staff, and faculty only. Requires UTORid login. Files with State abbreviation in name are presented by: congressional district, legislative district, region and precinct. Also includes tab for update log. Files with no State abbreviation in the title provide tabs for data by state, county, town, party. Also includes graphs, information on candidates, statistics, ballots, notes, data sources and update log. Files with PrimD and PrimR in the title provide data for the Democratic and Republican primaries.

A survey conducted in February 2025 found that the most important issue for ** percent of Americans was inflation and prices. A further ** percent of respondents were most concerned about jobs and the economy.

The average for 2023 based on 19 countries was 0.32 1 elections, 0 otherwise. The highest value was in Argentina: 1 1 elections, 0 otherwise and the lowest value was in Bolivia: 0 1 elections, 0 otherwise. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This graph shows the democratic and republican percentages of two-party presidential vote in the U.S. from 1948 to 2008 for the white voters. **% of the white voters voted for the democratic candidate in 1948.

Data from Dave Leip's atlas of U.S. presidential elections separated by Congressional District. For use by University of Toronto students, staff, and faculty only. Requires UTORid login. Files with State abbreviation in name are presented by: congressional district, legislative district, region and precinct. Also includes tab for update log. Files with no State abbreviation in the title provide tabs for data by state, county, town, party. Also includes graphs, information on candidates, statistics, ballots, notes, data sources and update log.

The average for 2023 based on 14 countries was 0.604 index points. The highest value was in Canada: 0.948 index points and the lowest value was in Haiti: 0 index points. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

United States presidential elections are quadrennial elections that decide who will be the President and Vice President of the United States for the next four years. Voter turnout has ranged between 54 and 70 percent since 1964, with white voters having the highest voter turnout rate (particularly when those of Hispanic descent are excluded). In recent decades, turnout among black voters has got much closer to the national average, and in 2008 and 2012, the turnout among black voters was higher than the national average, exceeded only by non-Hispanic white voters; this has been attributed to Barack Obama's nomination as the Democratic nominee in these years, where he was the first African American candidate to run as a major party's nominee. Turnout among Asian and Hispanic voters is much lower than the national average, and turnout has even been below half of the national average in some elections. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, such as the absence of voting tradition in some communities or families, the concentration of Asian and Hispanic communities in urban (non-swing) areas, and a disproportionate number of young people (who are less likely to vote).

The average for 2023 based on 19 countries was 0.608 index points. The highest value was in Chile: 0.956 index points and the lowest value was in Haiti: 0 index points. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.