Think tank’s analysis details voter turnout, choice, and experience in Tennessee’s 2024 election cycle
NASHVILLE – The voter turnout rate in November 2024 was lower than record-breaking 2020 but higher than the two previous presidential cycles in 2016 and 2012, finds a new report by nonpartisan think tank ThinkTennessee. The report analyzes Tennessee’s 2024 election cycle through three lenses: voter turnout, voter choice, and voter experience, providing insights into the state’s historical election trends and highlighting some persistent challenges that continue to prevent some would-be voters from casting a ballot.
“While participation rates are trending positively over time, Tennessee’s voter turnout rate continues to trail most other states,” said Erin Hafkenschiel, president of ThinkTennessee. “There is still work to be done to enhance voter education to prevent would-be voters from falling through the cracks, and the state could consider opportunities to expand voting policies that would help deepen voter engagement and align Tennessee with our peers without sacrificing the integrity of our election system.”
In November, 64.0% of registered Tennessee voters—3.09 million out of 4.83 million registered—cast ballots. This was five percentage points below the record turnout of 69.3% in 2020, but higher than turnout in the previous presidential elections of 2016 and 2012 (61.9% in both). The report also finds that voters in Tennessee had more choices on their ballots than in past election cycles. With both parties fielding candidates in more August primary races, voters had a greater selection of candidates on their ballots in November compared to previous election cycles. As for voter experience, an analysis of calls to the election protection hotline finds that most Tennessee callers (74%) asked questions about voting – where and when to vote, the voter registration deadline, absentee voting, voter ID – while 26% reported issues or challenges that they experienced during the voting process.
ThinkTennessee shares four key takeaways from the 2024 election cycle in Tennessee:
- Tennessee elections remain secure. No major issues were reported. East Tennessee counties even administered an election in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with all but one affected county seeing higher turnout rates than the state average.
- Voter turnout continues to trail most other states. More registered voters participated in November than in the two presidential cycles prior to 2020’s record-breaking year, but two early estimates of national turnout rank Tennessee 33rd and 45th nationally.
- Would-be voters continue to miss out on casting a ballot. Election protection hotline calls continue to highlight gaps in knowledge of key elements of our state’s voting process, such as the 30-day voter registration deadline.
- Presidential election cycles and contested races drive higher voter turnout. Analysis of historical voter data shows that all else being equal, voter participation is higher in presidential cycles than in midterms and when more than one candidate (especially two major party candidates) is on the ballot.
For a full analysis of the think tank’s 2024 election research, the complete report can be found on ThinkTennessee’s website at thinktennessee.org.
