High Voter Turnout

Critical Analysis

1. Based on the trends from these two charts, what will the likely voter turnout rate be for the 2020 general election?

2. What percentage of voters turned out in the 2018 midterm and how much, on average, does general election voter turnout go up from the previous midterm election?

3. Has the voter turnout of any midterm election ever been higher than the voter turnout of any presidential election?

4. What do you predict voter turnout will be in 2020?** And ask your teacher to make a prediction on our google form. And then see how close your predictions were once the results come in (which could take a while*)

5. What story do the above charts tell about the increase in voter turnout between midterm and general elections?

6. Why do more people vote in general than in midterm elections?

7. What is one consequence of this?

8. What happened to the Republican House majority as a result of the massive turnout of 2018 midterm election? And what generally happens to the party in power when there is a large increase in voter turnout?

9. These charts tell about voter turnout. What other information would you need to know in order to more accurately predict which party will likely win in the 2020 election?

10. Is it true that in Colorado there is always a high voter turnout?

11. We think a lot about the presidential election, but how will high voter turnout in 2020 impact down-ballot races (races other than the presidency)?

12. How do you think this information influenced the Biden and Trump 2020 presidential campaigns?

13. Remember, even if we have record high voter turnout, about 1/4 of the people who could vote won’t vote in 2020. What would you say to those non-voters?

14. Make a claim about who will win the 2020 election and support it with data and your knowledge of U.S. government and politics.

Learning Extension

According to the US Elections Project, as of 29 October more than 80 million Americans had voted early - either by post or in person. This is already more than the total number of early votes cast in the 2016 election. Check out the latest voting total updates from the US Elections Project.

Action Extension

VOTE if you can. Here is a list of when polls close nationwide. Then follow tonight’s vote with our 2020 Election Tracker.

**I predict 72.3% voter turnout in the 2020 general election.

Visual Extension*

2019 Special Election Turnout