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Fact check: How many registered voters in 2020
Executive Summary
There is no credible basis for the claim that only 133 million Americans were registered to vote in 2020; contemporary government and data analyses place the number of registered voters considerably higher, with multiple post-election tabulations indicating figures in the 155–168 million range and state-by-state totals consistent with that scale [1] [2] [3]. Different authoritative sources emphasize turnout, registration rates, and state-level registration totals rather than a single, definitive national tally published on election night, producing variation in reported totals but consistently contradicting the 133 million figure [4] [2].
1. How official tabulations rebut the 133 million claim and show higher registration totals
The U.S. Census Bureau and related analyses compiled after the 2020 election report national registration and turnout numbers that are substantially higher than 133 million, citing roughly 155 million to 168.3 million people who were registered or who voted depending on the metric used [1] [2]. A January 2022 population report cited by a fact check summarized the Census Bureau’s post-election tabulations as indicating approximately 168.3 million registered voters, a figure that directly contradicts the lower claim and aligns with state-level registration tallies compiled across jurisdictions [1]. These post-election reports incorporate both mailed and in-person ballots and reconcile state reporting discrepancies, producing a more complete national picture than selective snapshots or aggregates based on incomplete state lists [2].
2. Why turnout versus registration produces different headline numbers
Analyses of the 2020 election often emphasize turnout — how many people cast ballots — rather than raw registration totals, and this difference in focus explains part of the numerical variation reported. Multiple sources report roughly 155–159 million ballots cast in 2020, representing the highest participation in a century and turnout rates of about 66.7–66.8 percent of eligible adults, while registration totals reported by some compilations show a larger base of registered voters [2] [3]. Because turnout counts actual ballots cast and registration counts the superset of eligible voters who signed up to vote, comparing these two distinct measures without clarifying definitions creates confusion and enables misleading claims like the 133 million figure to spread.
3. State-level registration data underscores the national scale and distribution
State-by-state registration tables compiled in 2020 demonstrate that registration totals in large states alone make the 133 million claim implausible: California reported about 15.69 million registered voters, and other populous states contributed large cohorts as well, producing a national registration pool consistent with the Census-based totals rather than the much lower alternative [4]. These state tables also show significant variation in registration rates as a proportion of population — states like Maine had registration rates above 77 percent while Hawaii was nearer 49.5 percent — which explains why national aggregation requires careful reconciliation and why simple, unilateral claims about a single low national total are unreliable [4].
4. Data sources, timing, and methodological differences that drive the debate
Different reputable sources use varied methodologies and timing windows — some report registered voters as of a specific date, others report people who voted, and still others derive estimates from the Current Population Survey (CPS) or state election rolls — creating room for divergent headline numbers even when underlying data are consistent [5] [6]. For example, the CPS Voting and Registration tables provide demographic breakdowns and can show registered versus unregistered eligible citizens, while Census post-election tabulations aim to reconcile state-reported registration with turnout; each approach is valid but answers a different question, so claims that ignore these methodological distinctions risk misrepresenting what the data actually show [5] [6].
5. What the evidence collectively implies and where caution is warranted
Combining post-election Census analysis, turnout counts, and state registration tables leads to a consistent conclusion: national registered voter totals in 2020 were well above 133 million, and public claims to the contrary rely on misinterpreting turnout figures or incomplete state snapshots [1] [2] [4]. Readers should treat single-number assertions with skepticism, verify whether the number cited refers to registered voters or ballots cast, and consult the primary tabulations — Census post-election reports and state registration tables — for reconciled totals; the available evidence from those sources converges on the higher registration estimates rather than the low figure attributed to some claims [1] [4] [2].