The outcomes of the heated 2020 U.S. presidential election might offer valuable lessons regarding voter participation for the upcoming 2024 election.

Poll results have their flaws, and trust in these findings has diminished. Key states—especially Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—remain a focal point for both political campaigns. Following false claims about the 2020 election from former President Donald Trump, over half of U.S. states have introduced measures to restrict early and absentee voting.

As we prepare for the general election in November, a competition that has brought numerous unforeseen developments, insights can be drawn from the 2020 election—an event that smashed voting records and challenged existing norms. In the 2020 election, more than 158 million Americans cast their ballots, contributing to a significant increase in voter turnout.

The following maps arose from an analysis conducted by YSL News in November 2020, reviewing county-level vote returns, historical trends by state, shifts in votes since the 2016 election, and the record-breaking voter participation in 2024.

Votes were divided in most counties during 2020.

In the 2020 election, the majority of counties showed a mix of votes for Biden and Trump. Rather than a clear red or blue, many areas were represented by a blend of colors. Fewer than 600 out of around 3,000 counties (excluding Alaska) favored one candidate by over 80%.

It’s the people who vote, not just the land.

A map showing countywide results provides a limited perspective since some counties have significantly larger populations than others. In the map below, circles vary in size according to the vote differences between candidates in each county, colored red or blue based on the winning candidate. Trump won by narrow margins in numerous locations, while Biden secured larger victories in fewer counties.

2020 experienced the highest voter turnout in over a hundred years.

The 2020 general election saw over 159 million votes cast, with Biden attaining more than 81 million votes—the highest ever for a presidential candidate. Many counties recorded higher turnout compared to 2016, particularly in crucial battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

County Voting Patterns Shifted Since 2016

Trump’s victory in 2016 stemmed from an increasing proportion of Republican votes in various counties, especially in the Midwest. In 2020, while some counties exhibited a rise in Republican votes, several others reverted to Democratic support, particularly in vital battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Contributors: Mitchell Thorson, Janie Haseman, Karina Zaiets, Dan Keemahill, Kevin Crowe, and Dian Zhang