DIGGING DEEPER: 2024 Iowa primary voter turnout down from past elections

DES MOINES, Iowa (KTTC) – Tuesday’s primary election in Iowa declined in registered voter turnout, when compared to that of previous years. Data from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office showed fewer voters cast ballots in 2024 than both 2022 and 2020.

According to the Secretary of State’s website, 2024 primary election unofficial results had a 8.30% voter turnout rate, with 183,630 registered voters casting ballots. In comparison, 357,603 registered voters cast ballots in 2022, with a total voter turnout rate of 16.17%. For 2020, the rate was 24.52%, with 531,131 ballots cast.

Although this year’s primary election results are unofficial at this time, turnout rate has progressively declined within the three terms. Previously on KTTC, Cerro Gordo County Auditor Adam Wedmore stated fewer people historically have cast ballots in June than in November, during a general election.

“[This is] for several reasons, one of those being that voters are not just necessarily choosing that candidate to serve in the position, but they’re choosing a candidate to move on to the next general election ballot.”

KTTC reached out to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office for a statement regarding the current voter turnout rate and has not received a response as of Wednesday evening.

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