US Census Press Releases

CB04-FFSE.01

January 6, 2004

* Special Edition *

The 2004 Presidential Election

Every four years, voters head to the polls to select our nation’s president. The process begins with a series of primaries and caucuses in the winter and spring and culminates with the general election in November. To mark the start of the 2004 presidential election season, the Census Bureau has culled from previously released statistical reports the following facts:

State Turnout Trends
In both Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation political party caucus, and New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation party primary, 67 percent of citizens voted in the 2000 presidential election. (See attached table.) <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

In 2000, the highest voting rates were found in the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine and Minnesota, each at or about 70 percent. (See attached table.) <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

National Turnout Trends
60
Percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots in the November 2000 presidential election, slightly higher than the 58 percent who voted in 1996.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

70
Percentage of citizens who were registered to vote in 2000, compared with the 71 percent registered in 1996. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

111 million
The number of people who voted in the 2000 presidential election, short of the record high of
114 million set in 1992. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

86
Among citizens registered to vote in the 2000 presidential election, the percentage who reported they cast ballots, up from 82 percent in 1996. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

61
Percentage of eligible women voters who voted in the 2000 presidential election. That is higher than the 58 percent of men who voted. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

72
Percentage of citizens ages 65 to 74 who voted in the 2000 presidential election. This age group has the highest voting participation of any age group. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

21
Among people who said they were registered to vote in 2000 but did not actually vote, the percentage who gave as a reason that they were too busy or had conflicting work or school schedules. This was the most common reason given for not voting. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html>

From time to time, special editions of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features are issued to commemorate anniversaries or observances or to provide background information for topics in the news. Below is a listing of previous such editions:

U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans (April 10, 2003)
Tax Time (April 11, 2003)
Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial (May 12, 2003)
Dialing for Dollars (Sept. 24, 2003)
Establishment of Washington, D.C., as Nation’s Capital — Anniversary (Dec. 1, 2003)
First Flight Centennial (Dec. 3, 2003)
Social Security COLA (Dec. 11, 2003)

Editor’s note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.

Releases « Facts for Features & Special Editions