Lynn Midterm Election Voter Turnout

Tuesday's 2018 midterm election saw historic voter turnout nationwide with an estimated 49% of eligible voters casting a ballot (compared to 36.7% in 2014). In Lynn, voter turnout was up just slightly from 2014 (+3.7).

The city overall overwhelming voted for incumbents Senator Elizabeth Warren (67% to 30%) and Governor Charlie Baker (61% to 39%). Lynners also voted on the ballot questions in line with the final statewide results (No; Yes; Yes).

While the official voter participation rate statewide has not been posted yet, Secretary of State William Galvin did expect 2.4 million ballots to be cast in Massachusetts (equivalent to a more than 50% turnout rate).

Source: Lynn City Clerk and Elections Office

Lynn Voter Turnout Rates [2008 - 2017]

Given the recent political events and current climate, there has been a renewed push for voter participation in this year's midterm election. Here we take a look a Lynn's voter turnout rates for the past decade. 

Presidential Elections

• 2008
• 2012
• 2016

Municipal Elections

• 2009 (mayoral race)
• 2011
• 2013 (mayoral race)
• 2015
• 2017 (mayoral race)

Gubernatorial/Midterm Elections

• 2010
• 2014
• 2018 (Participation rate TBD)

As previously noted, voter participation in Lynn tends to be highest for presidential election years and lowest in years where there is a municipal election but no mayoral contest. 

Source: Lynn City Elections and Voting Web Page

Lynn Sees Lowest Voter Turnout in City Elections

Understandably, there has much discussion lately in the news and on social media regarding the upcoming presidential election. This is not surprising given both the stakes in this year's election but also given the candidates, Democratic nominee Secretary Hillary Clinton and Republic nominee Donald Trump. Further, presidential elections in general seem to garner more interest that municipal or state elections. In Lynn, this is certainly the case. Below is voter turnout in the city over the last eight years.

2008 and 2012 were both presidential election years and saw Lynn's highest voter participation rates. The lowest turnout were in municipal election years with no mayoral race (2011 and 2015. In last year's municipal election, voter turnout was highest in Ward One at 32.7% and lowest in Ward Six at 14.4%. Surrounding cities/towns saw similar patterns with Chelsea seeing a 60.19% voter turnout rate in 2012 and then 15.63% and 20.54% in the 2013 and 2015 municipal elections respectively. Last year's municipal election in Revere saw a 40.73% voter turnout compared to 88.43% in the last gubernatorial race. From this it seems that overall voters are much more attuned to or willing to vote in state and national elections compared to their very local city elections.


Sources:

• Chelsea City Clerk - Election Results
• Lynn City Clerk - Election Results Archive
• Revere Election Commission - Election Results

2012 Gubernatorial Elections

Besides the presidential election, there will be gubernatorial elections in 11 states and 2 territories this year.

• American Samoa (Currently D)
• Delaware (Currently D)
• Indiana (Currently R)
• Missouri (Currently D)
• Montanta (Currently D)
• New Hampshire (Currently D)
• North Carolina (Currently D)
• North Dakota (Currently R)
• Puerto Rico (Currently R)
• Utah (Currently R)
• Vermont (Currently D)
• Washington (Currently D)
• West Virginia (Currently D)