Fact check: What were the voter turnout numbers for the 2024 presidential election?

1. Summary of the results

The 2024 presidential election voter turnout was consistently reported across multiple authoritative sources, with slight variations in methodology and measurement:

• Pew Research Center reported a 64% turnout rate, describing it as the second-highest since 1960 ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• U.S. Census Bureau provided more specific data: 65.3% of the citizen voting-age population voted, with 73.6% registered to vote ^[4]
• Ballotpedia reported 63.7% of eligible voters participated, noting this was lower than 2020's record 66.6% but higher than every other election year since at least 2004 ^[5]

The sources also revealed important demographic and participation patterns: about a quarter of Americans eligible to vote had no record of voting in any of the last three national elections ^[2], and Trump benefited from higher turnout among his 2020 voters and held an edge among voters who did not vote four years earlier ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements that the analyses provide:

• Historical comparison: The turnout represents a decline from 2020's record-breaking 66.6% but remains exceptionally high by historical standards ^[5]
• Demographic breakdown: Sources provided detailed information about voter composition by age, education level, and racial characteristics ^{[1] [4]}
• State-by-state variations: Ballotpedia offered state-specific turnout rates and voting method information ^[5]
• Voter behavior patterns: The election saw significant participation from new or returning voters who had not voted in 2020, creating a more racially and ethnically diverse voter coalition ^[3]
• Registration vs. participation gap: The Census data reveals that while 73.6% were registered, only 65.3% actually voted, highlighting the difference between registration and actual participation ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry about voter turnout numbers. However, the question's simplicity could lead to incomplete understanding without the broader context that the analyses provide. The slight variations in reported percentages (ranging from 63.7% to 65.3%) reflect different methodological approaches rather than contradictory information, with each source using legitimate but distinct measurement criteria for eligible voters versus citizen voting-age population.