Voter turnout in U.S. midterms by gender 1966-2018

Similarly to U.S. presidential elections, female voter participation overtook male voter participation in recent decades. While the share of male voters was five percent higher than female voters in 1966, female voters have consistently voted in higher numbers since 1986, while 51percent of eligible female voters participated in the 2018 midterm elections, compared to 47 percent of eligible male voters.

Voter turnout rates* among male and female voters in U.S. midterm elections from 1966 to 2018

Characteristic	National average	Male	Female
2018	49%	47.2%	50.6%
2014	38.5%	37.2%	39.6%
2010	41.8%	40.9%	42.7%
2006	43.6%	42.4%	44.7%
2002	42.3%	41.4%	43%
1998	41.9%	41.4%	42.4%
1994	45%	44.7%	45.3%
1990	45%	44.6%	45.4%
1986	46%	45.8%	46.1%
1982	48.5%	48.7%	48.4%
1978	45.9%	46.6%	45.3%
1974	44.7%	46.2%	43.4%
1970	54.6%	56.8%	52.7%
1966	55.4%	58.2%	53%

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Release date

October 2019

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Region

United States

Survey time period

1966 to 2018

Supplementary notes

*Voter turnout figures relate to the share of eligible voters who take part in the election, and does not represent the share of the entire population (for example, under-18's, non-citizens, felons (rules vary)).
Residents in U.S. overseas territories are eligible to vote in general elections, but may not vote in the presidential election.

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