It’s election season in Massachusetts, and that means officials, experts, and strategists alike are keeping a watchful eye on voter turnout.

Statewide turnout in the September 1 primary election hit nearly 23 percent — the highest it’s been in a midterm election year since 2006. It’s a promising outcome, suggesting the Bay State could ultimately see higher voter turnout on November 3 than in previous election years. After all, this year’s ballot will feature an unusually high number of widely debated ballot questions, as well as other high-profile races.

But cities like Worcester — where the poverty rate is twice as high as the state’s — may still have trouble getting people to the polls this November. The city’s turnout in this month’s primary was just over 15 percent, though it was a notable increase from the city’s 11.5 percent turnout in the 2024 primary.

During the 2022 midterms, Worcester County’s voter turnout was 51 percent, which mirrored the state average. But, only 38 percent of voters turned out to vote in Worcester, even though it was a year in which the governor was on the ballot. That same year, Worcester had the lowest voter registration rate in the county at 66 percent, while the state’s voter registration rate was 86 percent.

Gateway Cities — some of the state’s most disadvantaged and diverse urban communities — consistently have some of the lowest voter turnout rates in Massachusetts. In 2022, nine of the 10 municipalities with the lowest voter turnout in the state were Gateway Cities, with rates ranging from just 23 percent in Lawrence to 35 percent in Lynn.

The phenomenon is hardly unique to Massachusetts’s low-income cities. A 2023 report published by the Pew Research Center found that those who are least likely to vote are younger, more racially and ethnically diverse, and have received less formal education than likely voters. Research consistently shows that those with higher incomes also vote at higher rates than those with lower incomes. That discrepancy translates to more affluent people and communities having more of a say in who gets elected.

Ahead of the state election this fall, civic organizations in Central Massachusetts and beyond are grappling with how to solve this persistent problem, and how to increase turnout among those who face countless barriers to civic participation.

“We often hear that these voters are disengaged or not particularly interested in politics. I think people need to be careful about saying those things,” said Shanique Rodriguez, executive director of the nonprofit Massachusetts Voter Table, which works to increase voter turnout in Boston and the Gateway Cities. “The people who are least likely to vote are often the people who are most affected by decisions made through policy.”

More Context

• Turnout numbers highlight wealth, racial disparities (January 2021)