1948: In the election, about half the people voted and about half of them didn’t. Did you vote? 1962: One of the things we need to know is whether or not people really did get to vote this fall. In talking to people about the election we find that a lot of people weren’t able to vote because they weren’t registered or they were sick or something else came up at the last minute. Do you remember for sure whether or not you voted in the November election? 1952-1960,1964-1998, 2002 VERSION 1, and 2004 VERSION 1: In talking to people about the election we (1972 AND LATER: often) find that a lot of people weren’t able to vote because they weren’t registered or they were sick or they just didn’t have time. (1956-1960: How about you, did you vote this time?) (1964-1970: How about you, did you vote this time, or did something keep you from voting) (1972-1976: How about you, did you vote in the elections this fall?) (1978 and later: How about you, did you vote in the elections this November?) 2000, 2002 VERSION2, and 2004 VERSION 1: In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren’t registered, they were sick, or they just didn’t have time. Which of the following statements best describes you: One, I did not vote (in the election this November); Two, I thought about voting this time - but didn’t; Three, I usually vote, but didn’t this time; or Four, I am sure I voted?
Voted in the national election · Asked in 32 waves, 1948–2024 · 67,071 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Kept and flagged: 0 (other_missing). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: Code 2 includes 8 respondents from 1958, 8 respondents from 1962 and 14 respondents from 1968, who replied ‘yes, I think so.’ 1956 NOTE: Code 2 includes 3 cases from: ‘Nonvoter, NA preference; voted, but not for president’. 1982 NOTE: For congressional districts GA04 and GA05, an additional question appeared: How about the special US Congressional elections held November 30th. Did you vote in that election? From 1982, code 2 includes all GA04, GA05 respondents who voted in either the November 2 general election or the November 30 special election, or both. 2002 NOTE: Respondents were randomly assigned to either version 1 or version 2.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | No, did not vote | Yes, voted | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V242095x. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 4,982 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V202109x. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 7,496 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V162065x. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 3,673 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: rvote2012_x. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,532 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V085036x. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,102 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V045018X. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,066 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V025016. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,346 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| 20% |
| 80% |
| 4982 |
| ±2 |
| White | 17% | 83% | 3598 | ±2 |
| Black | 23% | 77% | 448 | ±6 |
| Hispanic | 32% | 68% | 513 | ±6 |
| Asian | 16% | 84% | 169 | ±10 |
| Other | 29% | 71% | 202 | ±10 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,555 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980303. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V961074. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,534 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V940601. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V925601. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,255 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900279. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880756. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 1,775 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860261. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 2,176 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840783. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 1,989 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820501. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V800988. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,408 |
| ANES 1978 Time Series Study Source variable: V780470. | 1978-11-08 to 1979-01-25 | face to face | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| ANES 1976 Time Series Study Source variable: V763655. | 1976-09-07 to 1977-01-30 | face to face | 2,248 | 1,909 |
| ANES 1974 Time Series Study Source variable: V742319. | 1974-11-06 to 1975-01-31 | face to face | 1,575 | 1,575 |
| ANES 1972 Time Series Study Source variable: V720477. | 1972-09-01 to 1973-02-13 | face to face | 2,705 | 2,285 |
| ANES 1970 Time Series Study Source variable: V700209(type 0). | 1970-11-04 to 1971-01-13 | face to face | 1,507 | 1,507 |
| ANES 1968 Time Series Study Source variable: V680310. | 1968-09-06 to 1969-01-28 | face to face | 1,557 | 1,393 |
| ANES 1966 Time Series Study Source variable: V660102. | 1966-11-08 to 1967-02-01 | face to face | 1,291 | 1,291 |
| ANES 1964 Time Series Study Source variable: V640286. | 1964-09-07 to 1965-02-01 | face to face | 1,571 | 1,450 |
| ANES 1962 Time Series Study Source variable: V620041. | 1962-11-07 | face to face | 1,297 | 1,297 |
| ANES 1960 Time Series Study Source variable: V600201. | 1960-09-12 to 1960-12-26 | face to face | 1,181 | 1,109 |
| ANES 1958 Time Series Study Source variable: V580077. | 1958-11-05 to 1958-12-25 | face to face | 1,450 | 1,450 |
| ANES 1956 Time Series Study Source variable: V560203. | 1956-09-17 to 1957-01-19 | face to face | 1,762 | 1,762 |
| ANES 1952 Time Series Study Source variable: V520178. | 1952-09-15 | face to face | 1,899 | 1,714 |
| ANES 1948 Time Series Study Source variable: V480018. | 1948-10-01 to 1948-12-31 | face to face | 662 | 662 |