The Iowa Secretary of State’s office released the statistical reports for the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans turned out more voters than Democrats for a mid-term election that set a record for voter turnout.
The statewide statistical report also shows Republicans voted in higher numbers and a higher percentage than Democrats and no party voters in 2018. A total of 492,802 Republicans cast ballots, compared to 458,902 Democrats, 368,773 no party voters and 8,513 Libertarians. Turnout percentage by political party was 71.6 percent of Republicans, 67.7 percent of Democrats, 56.1 percent of Libertarians and 45.9 percent of no party voters.
However, Democrats saw the largest increase in turnout compared to 2014 jumping 11.04 percent from a turnout rate in 2014 of 56.66 with 374,990 voters. Democrats saw an increase of 83,912 more voters than in 2014. Republicans gained jumped 3.4 percent compared to their turnout rate of 68.2 percent in 2014 with 452,283. They saw 40,519 additional voters in 2018.
Republican women had a turnout rate of 71.86 percent with 235,584 voters. Republican men recorded a turnout rate of 71.37 percent with 257,218 voters. Democrat women saw a turnout rate of 68.54 percent with 269,312 voters. Democrat men had a turnout rate of 66.58 percent with 189,590 voters. More women not registered with a political party voted than men registered without a political party – 188,727 to 180,045. Among no party voters, men had a slightly higher turnout rate 46.05 percent to 45.76 percent.
Iowa’s senior citizens had the best turnout out of any age segment in 2018, but Iowa’s younger voters saw record turnout.
Data shows 39.6 percent of registered voters Iowans between 18 and 34 years old participated. Turnout in this age group in midterm elections since 2002 had never surpassed 30 percent previously.
“These numbers are a very positive sign, but we can do better,” Secretary of State Paul Pate said. “Young people traditionally are the least likely to vote, and that trend continues, but these numbers show substantial improvement over previous elections. My office will continue its outreach initiatives to high school and college students, encouraging them and all eligible Iowans to engage in the electoral process.”
The highest turnout percentage in the 2018 general election belonged to Iowans aged 65 and over. More than 78 percent of that age group participated. Turnout overall in the state was 60.8 percent, the highest mark for a midterm election since 1994.
