Who Decides City Elections?

Glossary

Quick definitions for the terms used on this page.

Ages 18–29 turnout

The percent of eligible young adults ages 18–29 who voted in the mayoral election.

30+ turnout

The percent of eligible people age 30 or older who voted in the mayoral election.

Community type

The American Communities Project groups U.S. counties into 15 types based on demographic, economic, social, and geographic characteristics. A city's type on this page comes from its ACP reference county.

See all 15 community types

African American SouthSouthern communities with large Black populations and generally lower incomes.

Aging FarmlandsSparsely populated farming communities with older, mostly white populations.

Big CitiesDense, diverse counties that contain many of the nation's largest cities.

College TownsCommunities shaped by colleges, universities, and large student populations.

Evangelical HubsMostly Southern communities with high levels of evangelical religious affiliation.

ExurbsAffluent communities, often on the outer edges of major metro areas.

Graying AmericaCommunities with large senior populations, often rural and less diverse.

Hispanic CentersCommunities with large Hispanic populations, many of them younger and rural.

LDS EnclavesCommunities with large Latter-day Saints populations, often younger and middle-income.

Middle SuburbsMiddle-income, blue-collar communities located mostly around metro areas.

Military PostsYounger, diverse communities located around major military installations.

Native American LandsCommunities with large Native American populations, often younger and lower-income.

Rural Middle AmericaMostly rural, mostly white communities with middle incomes and average education levels.

Urban SuburbsEducated, densely populated, diverse communities surrounding major metro areas.

Working Class CountryRural, blue-collar communities with lower incomes and lower college graduation rates.

About this information

Voter participation data comes from a commercial data provider that compiles official state voter-file records. Population and eligible-voter estimates come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Who Decides compares participation in a recent mayoral election with the estimated voting-eligible population in each age group. Election dates and other election information are compiled from public election records.

Data may be updated as new or revised source information becomes available.

Questions? Contact us at info@rockthevote.org.

WHO DECIDESCITYELECTIONS?