US voter turnout was way up in the 2018 midterms, but still lags behind most developed countries

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November 13, 2018 11:12 PM

Voter turnout in the 2018 midterms was way up compared to previous years, but more than half of eligible voters still stayed home.

Georgians wait in line to cast their votes in the 2018 U.S. midterm election at a Gwinnett County polling place in Annistown Elementary School in Snellville, Georgia.

This year saw the highest voter turnout for a US midterm election in over hundred years, but it was still less than half the eligible population.
France, South Korea, Belgium, Sweden, Israel, New Zealand, Germany, the UK, Canada, and Spain all had over half the voting age population participate in their most recent national election.
Roughly 116 million Americans participated in the 2018 midterms.

Voter turnout in the 2018 midterms was way up compared to previous years, but still remained much lower than that of most developed countries.

According to data c

Moreover, other developed countries put the US to shame when it comes to voter turnout in national elections, according to the Mehlman's figures. In France's national election last year, for example, 67.9% of the voting age population participated. South Korea's national election in 2017 saw an even higher number: 77.9%.

Additionally, Sweden, Israel, New Zaland, Germany, the UK, Canada, and Spain all had over half the voting age population participate in their most recent national election.

While the US is technically the world's oldest democracy, it has an abysmal record when it comes to voter participation.

Even still, it can't be denied that 2018 represents a major improvement for the US in terms of midterm participation. Roughly 116 million Americans voted, according to an analysis from the US Elections Project.

On average, approximately 40% of eligible voters participate in US midterms.

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