Democracy
Our democracy thrives when people participate in community processes and engage with elected representatives.
What are we seeing?
Voter participation rates in 2020 decreased overall.
The overall neighbor participation rate continued to decrease from 2017 to 2020, with people of color (POC) participation rate declining at an even greater rate than the white population’s, signaling reduced sense of belonging.
People contacting public officials declined among the white and people of color population, but increased overall. This can be accounted for by an increase in Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Hispanic participation rates, signaling increased civic engagement.
–8.7% change in voter participation rate
–15.2% White –68.6% People of color
(as of 2024)
Click on each section below to view data results for the REGION, updated in 2024. (Optimized for desktop viewing). Data for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish will be available soon.
We’re headed in the right direction!
This trend means something is wrong.
Arrows show us weather a trend is ↑ increasing or ↓ decreasing.
Why is this metric important?
Broader participation in elections results in more representative government, policies that reflect the will of the region's residents, and promotes greater civic engagement.
Why is this metric important?
Connection with neighbors increases an individual's sense of belonging and builds civic engagement. Communities that are more connected are more resilient to change.
Why is this metric important?
Accessing power to share perspectives or try to influence policy are critical elements of well-functioning democratic practices.
