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Fact check: Which states have the highest and lowest voter registration rates in the US?

Checked on August 24, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there is limited specific data available to fully answer which states have the highest and lowest voter registration rates in the US. However, some key findings emerge:

  • Overall national context: The voter registration rate for the 2022 midterm election was 69.1% of the citizen voting-age population [1]
  • 2020 election data distribution: For the 2020 election, 16 states and D.C. had registration rates above 89%, while 20 states had rates above 85%, and 14 states had rates below 85% [2]. Notably, North Dakota does not require voter registration [2]
  • Limited state-specific data: Among the few states with specific data mentioned, Massachusetts shows a preregistration rate of 38.6%, New York has an 18-year-old registration rate of 42.7%, and California's rates vary by county [3]
  • Partisan shifts: There has been a notable shift in voter registration between Democrats and Republicans across 30 states, with Democrats shedding millions of registered voters while Republicans gained [4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal significant gaps in providing comprehensive state-by-state voter registration data:

  • No identification of specific highest-performing states: While we know 16 states and D.C. exceeded 89% registration rates in 2020, the analyses don't identify which specific states achieved the highest rates [2]
  • No identification of lowest-performing states: Similarly, the 14 states with rates below 85% are not specifically named [2]
  • Methodological differences: The data appears to mix different metrics - some sources reference preregistration rates, others focus on 18-year-old registration rates, and others discuss overall citizen voting-age population rates [3] [1]
  • Temporal variations: The available data spans different election cycles (2020 vs 2022), which could show different patterns due to varying election types and political climates
  • State policy impacts: The mention that North Dakota doesn't require voter registration suggests that state-specific policies significantly affect these statistics, but this context isn't fully explored [2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it's a straightforward factual inquiry about voter registration rates by state. However, the question assumes that:

  • Comprehensive data exists: The question implies that clear rankings of highest and lowest states are readily available, when the analyses suggest this data may be fragmented or incomplete
  • Uniform measurement standards: The question assumes states measure voter registration consistently, but the analyses hint at different methodologies and requirements across states [3] [2]

The lack of complete data in the provided analyses prevents a definitive answer to this legitimate question, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and standardized voter registration reporting across all 50 states.

Want to dive deeper?
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