Population and Turnout by State
According to the limited data on voter turnout among people experiencing homelessness, this group’s registration and turnout may be lower than the average population.
Even with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the locations and demographics of those experiencing homelessness are difficult to obtain due to their transiency, lack of address and lack of identification. Despite these difficulties, some facts and numbers are provided below.
The homeless population across the United States in 2020 was 580,466, according to the Point-in-Time (PIT) estimates released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
About 1 in 10 people experiencing homelessness vote in a typical election year, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. However, registration affects turnout. According to 2008 data, the most recent available, roughly 60% of the homeless population were U.S. citizens over age 18, but only 1 in 3 were registered to vote. Of course, registration numbers vary widely based on the state and the interests of individual voters.
Overall, many barriers to this population voting are also barriers to registration.
Table. Percent of people experiencing homelessness by state in 2020.
State |
Percentage of People Experiencing Homelessness |
Alabama
|
0.07%
|
Alaska
|
0.27%
|
Arizona
|
0.15%
|
Arkansas
|
0.08%
|
California
|
0.41%
|
Colorado
|
0.17%
|
Connecticut
|
0.08%
|
Delaware
|
0.12%
|
Florida
|
0.13%
|
Georgia
|
0.10%
|
Hawaii
|
0.44%
|
Idaho
|
0.13%
|
Illinois
|
0.08%
|
Indiana
|
0.08%
|
Iowa
|
0.08%
|
Kansas
|
0.08%
|
Kentucky
|
0.09%
|
Louisiana
|
0.07%
|
Maine
|
0.15%
|
Maryland
|
0.10%
|
Massachusetts
|
0.26%
|
Michigan
|
0.09%
|
Minnesota
|
0.14%
|
Mississippi
|
0.04%
|
Missouri
|
0.11%
|
Montana
|
0.14%
|
Nebraska
|
0.12%
|
Nevada
|
0.22%
|
New Hampshire
|
0.12%
|
New Jersey
|
0.10%
|
New Mexico
|
0.16%
|
New York
|
0.45%
|
North Carolina
|
0.09%
|
North Dakota
|
0.07%
|
Ohio
|
0.09%
|
Oklahoma
|
0.10%
|
Oregon
|
0.35%
|
Pennsylvania
|
0.10%
|
Rhode Island
|
0.10%
|
South Carolina
|
0.08%
|
South Dakota
|
0.12%
|
Tennessee
|
0.10%
|
Texas
|
0.09%
|
Utah
|
0.10%
|
Vermont
|
0.17%
|
Virginia
|
0.07%
|
Washington
|
0.30%
|
West Virginia
|
0.07%
|
Wisconsin
|
0.08%
|
Wyoming
|
0.11%
|
Note: Percentages were calculated using the 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau population values. For the total number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. per year, visit the Point-in-Time (PIT) estimates provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.