Desireé Solomon, Research Analyst Manager | September 2023
Fact Sheet
A Tale of 10 Black Cities
Black Voter Engagement in 2020 Elections
VOTER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Black Americans have the power to influence their communities and community systems through their vote. The Black vote in the United States has grown as a pillar of influence, especially in close, decisive, and consequential elections. These fact sheets depict the power of the Black vote in cities with the largest Black populations across the United States, and voter engagement the 2020 election. These fact sheets also include an Informed Voter Toolkit with information about new voting and election laws and other voting resources.
Acknowledgement:
This research was conducted in partnership with Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean and Fair Count and acknowledges the Voting Rights Lab for their meticulous tracking of voting rights legislation across the nation.
Detroit, MI
At the time of the 2020 election, Detroit was 78% BLACK.1
247,395 Detroiters voted in the election.
218,138 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 52%2 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Detroit is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Vote in Person: Where to Go & What to Expect
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Michigan State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Detroit Redistricting Commission
1 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Detroit City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/detroitcitymichigan
2 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
Atlanta, GA
At the time of the 2020 election, Atlanta was 49% BLACK.3
241,168 Atlanta residents voted in the election.
99,681 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 48%4 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Atlanta is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Geogia State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Georgia General Assembly
3 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Atlanta City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/atlantacitygeorgia 4 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH
Voter Empowerment and Black Civic Engagement
Washington, D.C.
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
At the time of the 2020 election, D.C. was 49% BLACK.5
343,320 Washingtonians voted in the election.
152,561 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 62%6 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab District of Columbia State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Chairman-Appointed Subcommittee and Ward-Specific Redistricting Taskforces
5 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Washington, D.C. Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/DC
6 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND
Voter Empowerment and Black Civic Engagement
Philadelphia, PA
At the time of the 2020 election, Atlanta was 49% BLACK.7
343,320 Philadelphians voted in the election.
152,561 8 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc WITH 73%9 of Black registered voters participating in the election.
Other Races Black Unregistered * Black Registered but Did not Vote Black Voters
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Pennsylvania State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Legislative Reapportionment Commission
7 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Phildadelphia City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ philadelphiacitypennsylvania
8 Philadelphia County Data.
9 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Voter Empowerment and Black Civic Engagement
New York, NY
At the time of the 2020 election, NYC was 31% BLACK.10
2,748,322 NYC residents voted in the election.
599,066 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 55%11 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Registered but Did not Vote
Races
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change. THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab New York State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: New York Independent Redistricting Commission
10 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 New York City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ newyorkcitynewyork
11 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
Chicago, IL
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
At the time of the 2020 election, Chicago was 29% BLACK.12
1,141,009 Chicagoans voted in the election.
314,955 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 63%13 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Voters
Races
Registered but Did not Vote
Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change. THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Illinois State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Chicago City Council
12 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Chicago Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chicagocityillinois
13 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
Dallas, TX
At the time of the 2020 election, Dallas was 25% BLACK.14
422,108 Dallas residents voted in the election.
81,200 15 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 60%16 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Texas State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Texas Legislative Redistrcting Board
14 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Dallas Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dallascitytexas
15 Dallas County Data
16 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
Houston, TX
At the time of the 2020 election, Houston was 23% BLACK.17
703,325 Houston residents voted in the election.
136,382 18 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 62%19 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Other Races Black Unregistered * Black Registered but Did not Vote Black Voters
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Texas State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Texas Legislative Redistrcting Board
17 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Houston Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/houstoncitytexas/ PST045221
18 Houston County Data
19 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
Miami, FL
At the time of the 2020 election, Miami was 23% BLACK.20
161,408 Miami residents voted in the election.
23,292 21 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 61%22 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Florida State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Miami-Dade County Legislature and Local Jurisdictions
20 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Miami Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ miamicityflorida/PST045221
21 Miami-Dade County Data
22 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS
Los Angeles, CA
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
At the time of the 2020 election, Los Angeles was 8% BLACK.23
1,578,136 LA residents voted in the election.
100,895 24 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however, ONLY 58%25 of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Black Voters
Other Races
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Los Angeles is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab California State Voting Rights Tracker
• Redistricting Process & Information: Citizens Redistricting Commission
23 U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Los Angeles Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia
24 Los Angeles County Data
25 Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
ENDNOTES
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, (2020). Election Results: 2020 General Election. https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-resultsspecifics.asp
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, (2022). Voting. https://www.chicagoelections.gov/en/voting.html
Coleman, A., (2020). Atlanta Progressive News. Voter Turnout Remained Low in Some Parts of Atlanta, Even During Presidential Election. https://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2020/11/20/voter-turnout-remained-low-in-some-parts-of-atlanta-even-during-presidential-election/
Department of State, (2020). 2020 Presidential Election. https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/ GeneralSummaryResults?ElectionID=83&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0
Detroit City government, (2020). Election Results. https://detroitmi.gov/webapp/election-results
Detroit Michigan Election Office, (2020). City of Detroit Election Office, Election Summary Report November 3, 2020- General Election Detroit, Michigan Official Results. https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2020-11/November%202020%20Election%20Summary%20 Report%20Signed%20Copy.pdf
District of Columbia Board of Elections, (2020). Voters. https://www.dcboe.org/Voters/Register-To-Vote/Register-to-Vote#
District of Columbia Board of Elections, (2020). General Election 2020- Certified Results. https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_ statistics/2020-General-Election
Georgia Secretary of State, (2022). Elections. https://sos.ga.gov/elections-division-georgia-secretary-states-office
Los Angeles Almanac, (2020). Election Turnout Los Angeles County. http://www.laalmanac.com/election/el02.php
Los Angeles County Government, (2021). Los Angeles Redistricting. https://redistricting.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County, (2020) Registrar-Recorder County Clerk. General Election. https://results.lavote.gov/#year=2020&election=4193
Miami City Government, (2022). November 3, 2020 General Election Information. https://www.miamigov.com/My-Government/Departments/ City-Clerks-Office/November-3-2020-General-Election-Information
Miami Dade County Government, (2022). Voter Information. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_ service=ser151187731708822
Michigan Department of State, (2022). Voter Information Center, Vote in Person. https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/VoteInPerson/#id-required
Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, (2022). https://www.michigan.gov/micrc
New York City Campaign Finance Board, (2021). Voter Analysis Report: 2020. https://www.nyccfb.info/pdf/2020-2021_Voter-Analysis-Report.pdf
Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, (2022). Department Reports and Data. https://www.philadelphiavotes.com/en/resources-a-data/ reports-and-publications.html
Pennsylvania Department of State, (2022). DOS Voting & Election Information. Voting in PA. https://www.vote.pa.gov/Voting-in-PA/Pages/ Voting-at-a-Polling-Place.aspx
Pennsylvania Department of State, (2022). Pennsylvania Redistricting. https://www.redistricting.state.pa.us
Texas Secretary of State, (2020). Dallas County Voter Registration Figures. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/dallas.shtml
Texas Secretary of State, (2020). Harris County Voter Registration Figures. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/harris.shtml
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Dallas city, Texas. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dallascitytexas
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Atlanta city, Georgia. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/atlantacitygeorgia
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Chicago city, Illinois. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chicagocityillinois
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Los Angeles city, California. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Detroit city, Michigan. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/detroitcitymichigan
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts District of Columbia. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/DC
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Houston city, Texas. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ houstoncitytexas/PST045221
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Los Angeles city, California. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia
ENDNOTES
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Miami city, Florida. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/miamicityflorida/PST045221
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts New York city, New York. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/newyorkcitynewyork
United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ philadelphiacitypennsylvania
Voting Rights Lab, (2022). State Voting Rights Tracker. https://tracker.votingrightslab.org/states
