5.1 million votes: See the demographics of Massachusetts' voting population

In 2020, 158.4 million citizens—almost two-thirds of estimated eligible voters—voted in the presidential elections, according to the Pew Research Center. The number represented a higher than average turnout, with people voting in numbers not seen since 1980 and possibly well before.

Stacker compiled voter demographics for each state and Washington, D.C., using the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (released in September 2020). Each slide shows the state's voting-eligible population (citizens who are 18 or older) and the breakdown of that population by sex, age, race, and education. Economic statistics are not included because the American Community Survey does not account for COVID-19, which affected unemployment, poverty, and medical insurance status for millions of Americans. In order to avoid making any assumptions about the data or the participants of the American Community Survey, Stacker used the exact wording of the "race" and "sex" framework that was provided in the census data.

Keep reading to see the voter demographics of your state.

Massachusetts by the numbers

- Voting-eligible population: 5,057,192
- Breakdown by sex: 47.6% male, 52.4% female
- Breakdown by age: 21.0% 18-29 years old, 22.6% 30-44 years old, 34.0% 45-64 years old, 22.3% 65+ years old
- Breakdown by race: 82.6% White, 6.9% Black or African American, 4.8% Asian, 9.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.4% two or more races
- Breakdown by education: 2.9% less than high school education, 4.6% some high school (no diploma), 24.4% high school graduate or equivalency, 18.7% some college (no degree), 7.2% associate's degree, 24.4% bachelor's degree, 17.7% graduate or professional degree

With its relatively high percentage of voters with graduate or professional degrees, Massachusetts is the most educated state in the U.S. Predominant voter populations in the Bay State comprise white females ages 45–64 years old. According to census data, more Massachusetts women voted in the 2018 midterm elections, with 50.6% casting a ballot.

By percentage, voters aged 45–64 are the highest in every state, with registered voters over the age of 45 comprising more than half the country's population. Older voters also trend toward turning out to vote at a higher rate and played a significant role in former President Donald Trump's 2016 victory in Florida.

Along racial lines, Black or African American voters in Louisiana and Georgia comprise more than 30% of the state's registered voters. California and Texas—which award the most electoral votes at 55 and 38, respectively—boast the highest numbers of Latino voters. On the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia and Maine boast the highest percentage of white voters. A number of states had already seen record voter turnouts, with 16 seeing more than half of its registered voters casting a ballot before Election Day.

Continue reading for a glimpse into the voter demographics of neighboring states.

Vermont

- Voting-eligible population: 498,705
- Breakdown by sex: 49.0% male, 51.0% female
- Breakdown by age: 20.4% 18-29 years old, 20.7% 30-44 years old, 34.1% 45-64 years old, 24.9% 65+ years old
- Breakdown by race: 95.6% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 1.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.0% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.0% two or more races
- Breakdown by education: 1.7% less than high school education, 4.9% some high school (no diploma), 29.7% high school graduate or equivalency, 20.2% some college (no degree), 8.2% associate's degree, 21.3% bachelor's degree, 14.0% graduate or professional degree

With a low voting-eligible population, the Green Mountain State holds just three electoral votes. Based on the highest percentage, white female voters between the ages of 45–64 who have a bachelor's degree are the most influential balloters in Vermont. Along with several other U.S. states, Vermont is breaking voting records, turning in more absentee ballots than ever before.

Connecticut

- Voting-eligible population: 2,619,474
- Breakdown by sex: 47.9% male, 52.1% female
- Breakdown by age: 19.8% 18-29 years old, 21.3% 30-44 years old, 35.6% 45-64 years old, 23.3% 65+ years old
- Breakdown by race: 79.6% White, 10.5% Black or African American, 3.3% Asian, 12.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.0% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.4% two or more races
- Breakdown by education: 2.7% less than high school education, 5.5% some high school (no diploma), 27.4% high school graduate or equivalency, 19.7% some college (no degree), 7.5% associate's degree, 21.6% bachelor's degree, 15.8% graduate or professional degree

Almost 16% of Connecticut voters have a graduate or professional degree, behind only Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts for the highest percentage in the country. The Constitution State has more than 2.6 million eligible voters—more women than men by 4.2%—earning it seven electoral votes.