Voter Turnout Rates for Presidential Elections, 1980 to 2004 Based on Ballots
Counting ballots provides the most accurate measure of voter turnout (but cannot show the characteristics of voters). Nationwide, voting patterns in presidential elections have varied somewhat. In 1996, 52 percent of the voting eligible population voted in the presidential election, while in 2004, 60 percent voted. There are even bigger differences across states. In 2004, voter turnout ranged from 48 percent in Hawaii to 78 percent in Minnesota.
This statistic measures the percentage of the voting eligible population that cast a vote for a Presidential candidate from 1980 to 2004. The number of votes cast is compiled from administrative data collected by the states. According to the United States Election Project, "The most typical way to calculate the turnout rates is to divide the number of votes by what is called the 'voting-age population,' which consists of everyone age 18 and older residing in the United States. This includes persons ineligible to vote, mainly non-citizens and ineligible felons, and excludes overseas eligible voters." To provide a more accurate calculation, Trends To Watch estimates the voting-eligible population by taking the voting-age population and subtracting first the number of non-citizens living in a state and second the number of individuals denied voting rights due to imprisonment. These data are unable to account for the number of released offenders denied voting rights or the number of individuals denied voting rights due to mental illness or handicap. These data were produced by Dr. Michael McDonald and the United States Elections Project, located at http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm. Dr. Michael McDonald, Associate Professor of Government and Politics at George Mason University, provided consulting support on developing and analyzing these data.
