World

US voter turnout didn't set record

by Dave Keating | November 14, 2008 at 04:13 am

122 views | 5 Recommendations | 2 comments

The numbers have been tabulated, and it turns out that voter turnout was actually far lower than analysts had expected in this past US presidential election. Though the turnout was greater than in 2000 and 2004, it failed to beat the record set in the 1964 election. It is thought that the high number of Republicans who stayed home accounts for the lower-than-expected number.

Turnout in last week's election increased from four years ago but fell far short of some forecasts largely because many Republican voters either stayed home or left blank the presidential section of their ballots.

Discuss

COMMENTS (0)

In states won by President-elect Barack Obama, turnout was more than five percentage points higher than in states won by Republican John McCain, according to a Globe analysis of data compiled by a pair of researchers who study voting patterns in US elections.

Both Curtis Gans, director of American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate, and Michael McDonald, a professor at George Mason University, have conducted state-by-state reviews of unofficial returns, which are still being tabulated in many states. Each had predicted significantly higher turnout than materialized on Election Day.

"I looked at the significant increase in registration and the long lines at the early-voting polling places," said Gans, who has been studying turnout rates for 36 years. "It turned out the intensity was one-sided; it was on the Democrats' side."

McDonald concurred, saying, "It became more evident to voters at the end that Barack Obama was going to win. That probably tamped down the turnout and disproportionately affected the Republicans."

4 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | Digg | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Add a comment

Jupiter_Jones

at 05:47 on November 14th, 2008

I went to volunteer on the Obama campaign in North Carolina. This photo was taken at the downtown Raleigh campaign HQ after a long and frazzled day canvassing leading up to the election. I can't remember what Barack was saying but it was obviously hilarious. The office was based in a former funderal home, complete with it's own embalming room, but since reclaimed for political acitivity. The office hosted the main unofficial Raleigh victory party on election night and also acted as a community centre for many local campaign groups including the fabulous GASP! (Girlfriends Appauled about Sarah Palin).

Jupiter_Jones has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 05:54 on November 14th, 2008

To some of the Americans I talk to that did not vote, the main reason for their main reason for not voting or abstaining for their right to vote was that they felt the system is failing them as long as every vote is not equal and counts as one, due to the College vote and the fact that some states have more power then others. Making democracy undemocratic in a way. Those I talked to where for the most part liberal or Ecologist that would have voted for Ralph Nadder if had meaning or would make a difference.