The percentage of the voting-age population (18 and over) that voted in an election.
Voting is a basic right of all citizens and indicates the citizenry's interest, commitment and belief in the value of participating in our political process.
In 2016, 57% of voting-age people in Berks County cast votes in the presidential election, slightly lower than the statewide rate of 60%. Data was not yet available at the national level for 2016.
During the 2012 presidential election, voter participation in Berks was similar to the U.S., both were at 54%, and slightly lower than the statewide rate of 57%. Since 2000, voter participation in Berks was at its lowest during the 2014 midterms, at 32%, slightly below Pennsylvania's rate of 35%.
During the 2016 election, voter participation was higher than Berks in Chester (68%) and Montgomery (68%) counties. Participation was similar to Berks in Lancaster (59%), Lebanon (58%) and Lehigh (57%) counties, and lower in Schuylkill (54%).
Rates were calculated using Census estimates of the population 18 and over. National data only available for presidential years.
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| 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 50% | 56% | 57% | 54% | 55% | |||
| Pennsylvania | 52% | 38% | 60% | 42% | 61% | 57% | 35% | 60% |
| Berks County | 48% | 36% | 56% | 39% | 58% | 54% | 32% | 57% |
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| Reading city | ||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||
| Chester County | 58% | 43% | 67% | 49% | 69% | 66% | 40% | 68% |
| Lancaster County | 51% | 36% | 61% | 40% | 60% | 56% | 35% | 59% |
| Lebanon County | 50% | 39% | 58% | 40% | 58% | 54% | 35% | 58% |
| Lehigh County | 49% | 35% | 58% | 37% | 58% | 54% | 29% | 57% |
| Montgomery County | 58% | 45% | 68% | 49% | 70% | 66% | 41% | 68% |
| Schuylkill County | 49% | 42% | 56% | 40% | 53% | 49% | 32% | 54% |
| 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 105,405,100 | 122,295,345 | 131,257,328 | 129,067,662 | 136,669,237 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 4,912,185 | 3,581,989 | 5,765,764 | 4,092,652 | 5,995,137 | 5,742,040 | 3,495,866 | 6,115,402 |
| Berks County | 135,163 | 102,528 | 164,487 | 116,933 | 180,000 | 170,320 | 101,845 | 183,065 |
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| Reading city | ||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||
| Chester County | 187,562 | 142,814 | 230,823 | 173,397 | 254,354 | 251,973 | 155,798 | 268,800 |
| Lancaster County | 175,317 | 126,549 | 221,278 | 150,602 | 228,137 | 222,436 | 140,773 | 241,112 |
| Lebanon County | 45,880 | 36,146 | 55,665 | 39,588 | 58,297 | 56,580 | 36,367 | 61,845 |
| Lehigh County | 116,280 | 84,896 | 145,091 | 94,030 | 152,473 | 147,002 | 81,552 | 160,993 |
| Montgomery County | 332,422 | 260,803 | 399,591 | 295,369 | 422,419 | 412,200 | 260,926 | 434,687 |
| Schuylkill County | 58,300 | 49,025 | 65,269 | 47,213 | 63,057 | 57,727 | 37,712 | 62,869 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Tourism Spending |  Maintaining |
| Voter Registration Rate |  Decreasing |
| Voter Participation Rate |  Increasing |
| Average Charitable Giving | Maintaining |
| Contributions as a Percentage of Income | Maintaining |
| Households With Internet Access | Increasing |
| Dams | Not Applicable |
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