Fact check: How did the 2025 presidential election voter turnout compare to previous years?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided do not offer direct comparisons of the 2025 presidential election voter turnout to previous years, as the 2025 election has not occurred yet, given the current date of September 17, 2025 ^[1]. However, historical context is provided, indicating that the 2024 presidential election had a turnout rate of 64%, which is the second-highest since 1960, behind only the 2020 election with a turnout rate of 66% ^[2]. Additionally, the 2024 presidential election saw 57.8% of the voting age population cast their votes, with 154,308,000 votes cast out of a voting eligible population of 244,666,890 ^[3]. Voter demographics also played a significant role in the 2024 election, with notable gains among certain groups of voters ^[1]. The sources suggest that voter turnout in the 2025 presidential election may be influenced by factors such as the significant number of Americans who have not voted in recent elections ^[1] and changes in voting patterns, including the increase in early voting ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is direct data on the 2025 presidential election, as the analyses primarily focus on the 2024 election and historical trends ^{[5] [6]}. Alternative viewpoints include the consideration of state-level voter turnout, such as the reported decrease in eligible voter turnout in California for the 2024 general elections ^[7], which could have implications for national voter turnout trends. Furthermore, the demographic profiles of voters and their preferences, as discussed in the analyses ^{[1] [8]}, highlight the complexity of predicting voter turnout based solely on historical data. The fact that about a quarter of Americans eligible to vote have no record of voting in any of the last three national elections ^[1] also underscores the potential for significant variability in voter turnout from one election to another.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks for a comparison of the 2025 presidential election voter turnout to previous years, which may be misleading given that the 2025 election has not yet occurred ^[1]. This framing could benefit political analysts or commentators seeking to speculate on future election outcomes based on historical trends ^{[2] [3]}. However, it is essential to acknowledge the lack of direct data on the 2025 election and the potential for unforeseen factors to influence voter turnout, such as changes in voter demographics, election policies, or external events ^{[4] [7]}. Therefore, any predictions or comparisons should be treated with caution and considered in the context of the available historical data and ongoing political landscape ^{[1] [8]}.