Most states saw voter turnout drop last year, driven in large part by young adults and non-Hispanic whites heading to the polls at lower rates than in years past. In all, new estimates published by the Census Bureau indicate 38 states recorded declines in turnout of eligible voters compared to the 2008 general election, led by South Dakota (-6.8 percent), Alaska (-6.6 percent) and Oklahoma (-6.3 percent). The national turnout rate dipped to 61.8 percent last year, down from 63.6 in 2008 and 63.8 percent in 2004. West Virginia was the only state with an estimated turnout below 50 percent -- only 47.8 percent of eligible voters casted ballots. Hawaii, president Obama’s childhood home, registered the next-lowest rate of 51.6 percent. A few states did, though, experience a noticeable uptick in turnout. Mississippi recorded the largest increase as eligible voter turnout swelled from 69.7 percent in 2008 to 74.5 percent last year – also the nation’s highest rate behind the District of Columbia. The state saw a similar jump in the percentage of eligible voters who were registered, up 7.2 percent from 2008.
Which States Saw Voter Turnout Jump, Decline Most Last Year?
