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).