Historically, this wasn’t always the case. Before 1980, men tended to vote in greater numbers than women during presidential elections.
However, since then, women have demonstrated a stronger voting presence.
If this trend persists – and indications show it might – Kamala Harris is likely to benefit in this election.
Additionally, the divide in perspectives and priorities between men and women regarding issues and candidates has grown increasingly pronounced.
A recent national poll conducted by YSL News/Suffolk University in mid-October showed that women strongly favored Harris, with 53% supporting her compared to 36% for Trump. Conversely, men showed overwhelming support for Trump at 53% versus 37% for Harris. If these patterns remain unchanged by Election Day, we could see the largest gender gap since this phenomenon began in 1980.
In the 1980 election that propelled Ronald Reagan into office, the percentage of women voting (59.4%) was slightly higher than that of men (59.1%). This marked the first instance in over 60 years where women surpassed men in voting during a presidential election year, as per data from the Census stretching back to 1964.
Women have consistently shown higher voting turnout than men, and early indicators suggest this year’s trend will follow suit.
As of November 1, women comprised 53% of early voters across the nation, while 44% were men, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic-aligned organization that monitors early voting trends, as reported by YSL News.
The Harris campaign is focusing on securing a significant number of female voters, especially following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the constitutional right to abortion.
Women’s votes played a crucial role in a surprising swing towards Harris in Iowa, as indicated by a Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll that demonstrated Harris leading Trump in this traditionally Republican state.
In an effort to counter Harris’ popularity with women, Trump is focusing on a commonly neglected voting group: young men who do not have college degrees.
Nonetheless, Trump must galvanize this demographic to increase their turnout compared to previous elections.
Comparison of Presidential Voter Turnouts
In the last presidential election, approximately 10 million more women voted than men in 2020, according to the Center for American Women in Politics.
As of Monday afternoon, over 79 million Americans had already voted early, based on data from the University of Florida’s Election Project, which tracks early voting statistics. In 2020, more than 100 million Americans participated in early voting, as reported by YSL News.
Women’s Voter Turnout in 2022
According to the League of Women Voters, women turned out to vote in remarkable numbers during the 2022 non-presidential election, coinciding with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which impacted the federal right to abortion.
Increased Female Voter Registration
Polls indicate that Harris is performing significantly better with female voters, while Trump has garnered higher support from men. A poll conducted between October 14 and 18 by YSL News/Suffolk University found Harris leading female voters at 53%-36%, whereas Trump led male voters 53%-37%.
