CB00-FF.12 October 23, 2000
Election Day, 2000: November 7
To mark the nation's quadrennial presidential election, the Census Bureau
has culled from previously released statistical reports the following
data:
The Electorate in 2000
- Nationwide, the number of residents old enough to vote in November
is projected to be 206 million 9 million, or 5 percent, more than in
the last presidential election in 1996.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- Not only are women projected to represent 52 percent of the voting-age
population in November 2000, outnumbering men by 8 million, but they
also are slightly more likely than men to vote (60 percent of women
voted in 1996 compared with 57 percent of men.) That would continue a
trend that started in 1984.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- By November 2000, about 40 percent of the voting-age population will be
between 25 and 44 years old. However, since the 1996 election, the 45-
to 64-year-old age group has grown faster than any other (14 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- The South is projected to have the largest voting-age population in the
nation 73 million followed by the Midwest (47 million), West (46 million)
and Northeast (40 million). Between November 1996 and November 2000,
the South and West combined accounted for most of the increase in the
nation's voting-age population (7.4 million out of 9.0 million).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- Between November 1996 and November 2000, California will have gained
2 million people of voting age tops in the nation followed by Texas
(1 million) and Florida (700,000). However, Nevada's voting-age
population will have grown the fastest of any state over the period (16
percent), followed by Arizona (12 percent) and Texas (9 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- Nationally, the voting-age population is projected to be 74 percent
non-Hispanic White, 12 percent African American, 4 percent Asian and
Pacific Islander and about 1 percent American Indian, Eskimo and
Aleut. The Hispanic-origin population which may be of any race, could
comprise about 10 percent of the total.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- The voting-age populations of Hispanics and of Asians and Pacific
Islanders are expected to be 16 percent greater in November 2000 than
they were in November 1996; however, about 2 out of 5 voting-age
Hispanics and Asian and Pacific Islanders are not U.S. citizens.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
- States projected to have the highest number of voting-age African
Americans in November 2000 are New York (2.3 million), California (1.9
million) and Texas (1.8 million). Tops in the number of voting-age
Hispanics would be California (7.0 million), Texas (4.0 million) and
New York and Florida (1.8 million each), while the leading states in
the number of Asian and Pacific Islanders would be California
(3.1 million), New York (789,000) and Hawaii (559,000).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
Presidential election turnout trends
- Voting declined between the last two presidential elections, as
54 percent of the voting-age population reported voting in the 1996
election, down from 61 percent in 1992.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- The 7-percentage-point decline between 1992 and 1996 was the largest
drop between consecutive presidential elections since the Census Bureau
began collecting data on voting in 1964, when 69 percent reported
voting. The rate declined 1 percentage point in 1968, 5 points in 1972
and 4 points in 1976, remained the same in 1980, then rose 1 point
in 1984 and declined 3 points in 1988 before rising 4 points in 1992.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- Turnout declined between 1992 and 1996 for people of all ages, for both
men and women and for Whites and African Americans. However, the drop
was greater for some groups than for others. For example, voting
declined by much more for Whites (8 percentage points) than for African
Americans (3 percentage points) over the period. Likewise, it fell
by 10 percentage points among those ages 18 to 24, but by only 3
percentage points for those over 65.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
Who's most likely to vote?
- The states where voting-age citizens were the most likely to vote in
the 1996 presidential election were all in the northern tier of the
country: Maine, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota
and Wyoming. (The rate for South Dakota, however, was not
significantly different from the rates for Wisconsin, Kansas,
Louisiana, Iowa, Missouri, Oregon, Nebraska and Rhode Island.)
People living in southern states tended to have the lowest voting
rates. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
Among voting-age citizens in 1996:
- The age group with the highest proportion of voters was 55- to
74-year-olds, with more than 7 in 10 casting ballots. The lowest
voting rates belonged to 18- to 24-year-olds, who had a ratio of
slightly more than 1 in 3 voting.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- Sixty-four percent of homeowners said they voted, compared with
42 percent of renters.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- Married people were more likely to vote (66 percent) than widowed
(60 percent), divorced (50 percent), separated or never-married
people (44 percent each).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- Those with bachelor's degrees were nearly twice as likely (74
percent) to have voted as those who had not completed high school (39
percent). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- More than 7 in 10 eligible voters living in families whose total
income was $50,000 or more reported voting, compared with less than 4
in 10 of those with a family income of under $10,000.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
- Whites had a higher turnout rate (61 percent) than African Americans
(53 percent). Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders voted at
lower levels (44 percent and 45 percent, respectively). African
Americans and Hispanics have lower educational levels and are younger
and more likely to be in poverty than Whites.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb98-146.html
The preceding facts come from the Current Population Survey and population
projections. The data are subject to sampling variability and other
sources of error. Previous Census Bureau Facts for Features this year:
African American History Month (February), Valentine's Day (February 14),
Women's History Month (March), Census Day, 2000 (April 1), Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month (May), Mother's Day (May 14), Father's Day (June
18), the Fourth of July, Back to School (August), Grandparents Day (Sept.
10) and Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). Questions or comments
should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel:
301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov).
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