DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa State Canvassing Board officially certified the results of the 2020 general election on Monday. Election turnout was the highest in state history, with more than 1.7 million voters casting ballots. Iowa’s turnout percentage of 76% was one of the highest in the nation.
“I’m proud of all the work our election officials and poll workers put in and of the way Iowans showed up in record numbers to make their voices heard,” Iowa Secretary of State Pate said. “Despite the pandemic, we had record-breaking turnout in the June primary and November general election. That shows once again that Iowans’ commitment to civic engagement is unrivaled.”
All 24 counties conducted a recount of results in Iowa’s Second Congressional District race. The official numbers following the recount show State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, winning over former State Senator Rita Hart, D-Wheatfield, by six votes, 196,964-196,958.
“This race reinforces that every single vote can make a difference and hopefully sends a message about how important it is to be a voter,” Pate said.
Below are some statistics from Iowa’s 2020 general election:
- Voter turnout was 1,700,130, setting a new state record. The previous high was 1,589,951 set in 2012.
- 1,001,573 Iowans cast absentee ballots, another state record. That accounted for 58.9 percent of all ballots.
- The percentage of registered voters that participated was 75.77 percent, one of the highest turnout rates in the country.
- Every county in the state surpassed 65 percent turnout.
- Harrison County had the best turnout percentage, 87.5 percent.
- 14 counties surpassed 80 percent turnout: Benton, Bremer, Cedar, Dallas, Delaware, Fayette, Grundy, Harrison, Kossuth, Madison, Ringgold, Sioux, Warren, and Wayne.
The State Canvassing Board is comprised of Governor Kim Reynolds, Pate, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, State Auditor Rob Sand, and State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald.
The full State Canvass is available on the Secretary of State’s website at this link.
