What was the voter turnout in California for the 2024 presidential election?
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1. Summary of the results
Based on the official data from California's Secretary of State, 16,140,044 Californians voted in the 2024 presidential election, representing a voter turnout of 71.43% of registered voters and 59.97% of the eligible voting age population [1]. This figure is corroborated by the Public Policy Institute of California, which reports approximately 16 million Californians voted in 2024 [2].
The 2024 election marked a significant decline in voter participation compared to 2020. Multiple sources confirm that California experienced a substantial drop in turnout, with the Center for Inclusive Democracy finding that eligible voter turnout decreased by nearly five percentage points compared to the 2020 presidential election [3]. The Public Policy Institute of California provides more specific metrics, reporting a decline of 9.7% as a share of registrants and 11.3% as a share of eligible residents [2].
In absolute numbers, this translates to approximately 1.7 million fewer ballots cast in 2024 compared to 2020, with over one million fewer registered Californians voting [2] [3].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The analyses reveal important contextual information about California's 2024 voting patterns that extends beyond simple turnout numbers. The election results showed Vice President Kamala Harris receiving 58.5% of the votes and President Donald Trump receiving 38.3% [4], indicating the political landscape despite reduced participation.
The turnout decline was not isolated to specific demographics or regions but occurred "across the board" throughout California [5]. This suggests systemic factors rather than targeted voter suppression or enthusiasm gaps in particular communities.
The sources indicate this was part of a broader pattern, with one analysis noting that the 2024 presidential election "reveals big shift in California voting patterns" [4], though the specific nature of these shifts beyond turnout numbers is not detailed in the provided analyses.
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question asking "What was the voter turnout in California for the 2024 presidential election?" contains no apparent misinformation or bias. It is a straightforward factual inquiry seeking specific electoral data. The question is neutral in tone and does not contain leading language or assumptions that would suggest a particular agenda.
The question appropriately seeks official turnout figures, which the analyses provide through authoritative sources including the California Secretary of State's certified results [1] and established research institutions like the Public Policy Institute of California and USC's Center for Inclusive Democracy.