Voter Turnout Up in U.S Midterm Elections

[Attalus]

This is from the Wahington Post.

Republican mobilization efforts, including President Bush's almost nonstop travels in the closing days of the campaign, boosted overall voter turnout in Tuesday's elections even as the number of voters declined in some traditionally strong Democratic areas, according to an analysis of the returns.

A total of 78.7 million votes were cast on Tuesday, a turnout of 39.3 percent of all voting age citizens, according to Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, an independent elections expert. That was a slight increase from the 37.6 percent turnout in the previous midterm elections, in 1998, and interrupted a steady decline in voter participation, he said.

I hope more people continue to get out and vote. [img]smile.gif[/img]
I think it is amazing and kind of sad that only a little over a third of the eligble voters, vote.

[ 11-08-2002, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Attalus]

Originally posted by MagiK: I hope more people continue to get out and vote. [img]smile.gif[/img] I think it is amazing and kind of sad that only a little over a third of the eligble voters, vote.

Me, too, my friend.

[chrisofthedale]

hey, did you hear about that court case of the kids that think kids should be able to vote?

Kids, think they should be able to vote? Why? Most kids that I know (the ones that hang aournd my kids) don't seem even a little bit interested in politics.

[Larry_OHF]

The week prior to elections, the only thing I had on my answering maching every day was at least one or two recordings, containing negative information about the candidates and very little (almost none) positive promotional material. I was so tired of hearing all that! This has been the worst election ever! The only live person that called me wanted to persuade me to believe in his candidate by asking me what my standing was on abortion. How did I feel about it? Well, I told him I was not interested in sharing my feelings with a stranger on the telephone, especially since I did not know of his intentions in learning my stand. That put an end to him.

[Attalus]

LOL, that's funny, Larry. I don't believe anyone called us except it in the local races, and then very seldom. I wonder if it is because you are in a metrpolitan area, and we in a rural.

[khazadman]

It is sad when 40% is considered a good turn out. And this is the first election i've missed (slaps self up-side head).

[Attalus]

Well, yes, but there is a downside to just wishing that everyone would vote. I wonder how many of those that did not vote did so out of apathy, ignorance, or alienation. How many didn't even know there was an election? Do you really want those people to vote, willy-nilly?

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by MagiK: I hope more people continue to get out and vote. [img]smile.gif[/img] I think it is amazing and kind of sad that only a little over a third of the eligble voters, vote.

I'm not so sure about that MagiK, I kinda figure Them that take the time to try and find out what is going on in politics, do go out and vote. Them that don't really care to find out what's going on, well I'm glad they don't get off their duffs and vote. I'll take the outcome, even if it is not who I voted for, if the voters take the time to try and find out what is going on.

[ 11-08-2002, 05:33 PM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]