Record 2.8 million Hoosiers cast ballots Nearly 1 in 4 voted early or absentee in ’08 general election, by Mary Beth Schneider, Indianapolis Star, Nov 26, 2008.
On the numbers/facts, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Law) made it easier for people to register with the expectation that more people would vote.
Trends indicate that the number of registrations did increase as did the number of voters. However, voter turnout as a percent of registered voters (average being 70%) indicate a downward trend.
Information on the total number of eligible voters in Indiana that have not registered, would have been interesting.
So-What? 2.8 million Indiana voters was a record but turnout as a percent was below average. Was the Motor Voter Law effective?
Will the votes make a difference? How will you know?
What standard should be used for interpreting trends?
| Year | Total Number of Eligible Voters | Voter Turnout (M) | Registered Voters (M) | Voter Turnout as a Percent of Registered Voters / | AVG Voter Turnout as a Percent of Registered Voters |
|
1964 |
? |
2.09 |
2.62 |
80% |
70% |
|
1968 |
? |
2.12 |
3.04 |
70% |
70% |
|
1972 |
? |
2.13 |
3.02 |
70% |
70% |
|
1976 |
? |
2.28 |
3.01 |
76% |
70% |
|
1980 |
? |
2.28 |
2.94 |
77% |
70% |
|
1984 |
? |
2.27 |
3.05 |
74% |
70% |
|
1988 |
? |
2.22 |
2.87 |
78% |
70% |
|
1992 |
? |
2.35 |
3.18 |
74% |
70% |
|
1996* |
? |
2.19 |
3.49 |
63% |
70% |
|
2000 |
? |
2.23 |
3.99 |
55% |
70% |
|
2004 |
? |
2.51 |
4.3 |
58% |
70% |
|
2008 |
|
2.81 |
4.51 |
62% |
70% |
* Motor Voter Law
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