Over 5 million Florida voters stayed home in November election
Low turnout in the state and on college campuses highlights a gap between registration numbers and actual ballot casting.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
More than 5 million registered Florida residents did not cast a ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The state had 13,672,122 people registered to vote, but only 60.81% participated. This result leaves a large portion of the state's population without a direct voice in the election outcome.
The University of Florida’s election lab reported that nearly 90 million people did not vote in the 2024 presidential election. That race featured the second-largest voter turnout in history. Despite high national participation, millions of Americans still remained at home, suggesting that even major elections struggle to motivate every eligible voter.
Student elections show similar patterns of low engagement. In the University of Miami’s fall 2026 Student Government Senate election, 687 students voted. The university has more than 12,000 full-time undergraduates. This turnout figure represents approximately 5.7% of the undergraduate student body.
Ava Stroshane, chair of the student government’s elections commission, said students often miss elections because they are unaware of the dates or do not know who the candidates are. Her team worked to increase participation by addressing these specific gaps in student knowledge.
In the weeks before the vote, Stroshane contacted departments such as Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement. The group distributed flyers and short informational blurbs about the election. The elections commission also hosted tabling events that offered students free cookies and pizza in exchange for their presence.
These efforts coincided with a 50% increase in turnout compared to the previous fall. However, the majority of undergraduates still did not participate in the student government race. The increase indicates that outreach can shift numbers, though the baseline remains low.
Abigail Lara, public relations chair of Get Out the Vote, noted that barriers to voting are consistent across different election types. She identified a lack of accessible information about the voting process and ballot contents as a primary obstacle for young voters. Her organization aims to ensure students feel informed enough to cast their ballots.
Get Out the Vote educates students on registration deadlines, early voting schedules, and how to register in Florida. Lara stated that some students believe a single vote will not make a meaningful difference. This perception leads many to disengage from the political process entirely, despite the impact of elected officials on issues like education and health care.
