What percent of eligible people usually vote in primary elections?

Answer 1

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 6, 2006)—Voter turnout in the 2006 statewide mid-term primaries fell 17 percent from the turnout level of 2002, as only 15.4 percent of the eligible electorate went to the polls, a record low for mid-term primaries, according to Curtis Gans, director of American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate (CSAE). The prior low was in both 1998 and 2002 when 18.6 percent of eligibles voted.

Turnout in the 38 states which had statewide primaries (for governor and U.S. Senate) in both parties was 57 percent lower than the 33.5 percent who voted in 1966, the high water mark in the last 50 years.

Average Democratic turnout in the 44 states which held statewide Democratic primaries was 8.4 of eligibles, also a record low. Democratic turnout fell 15 percent from the 9.9 percent who voted in 2002 and 58 percent lower than the 19.8 percent of eligibles who voted in Democratic primaries in 1966.

Turnout in the 40 states which held Republican statewide primaries also hit a record low as 7.2 percent of eligibles voted, fourteen percent lower that the 8.4 percent who voted in 2002 and 44 percent lower than the 12.9 percent of eligibles who voted in 1966.

Despite the sharp turnout decline in the 2006 primaries, it is likely that turnout in the November general election will be higher than the 39.7 percent of eligibles who voted in 2002.

These are among the principal findings of a report on turnout in the 2006 primaries, based on final and official vote counts in most states and final and unofficial vote counts in a few states which held September primaries, by American University’s Center for the Study of
the American Electorate.

(Note: The eligible vote is those 18 and over who are U.S. citizens [see note 2]. And the Democratic and Republican turnout percentages don’t add up to the overall turnout percentages because the overall percentages are determined by the states which held primaries in both parties. There were states which held or reported primaries in only one party [see note 3].)

Among the other findings in this report are:
–Only two races – the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator in Connecticut and the Republican primary for Senate in Rhode Island – produced record high turnouts.But the level of their turnout was not very high – 11.9 percent of eligibles in Connecticut, 8.5 in Rhode Island.

–Fourteen states which had primaries in both parties produced record low turnouts – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

–Fifteen statewide Democratic primaries recorded record lows, including states such as Hawaii, Oregon and Virginia which had vigorously contested and relatively close primaries. Oregon which has claimed beneficial turnout effects from its all-mail system of voting also had the second lowest overall primary turnout in its history.

–In the GOP statewide primaries, eight states – Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, New York and Wyoming recorded record lows. The GOP vote in the District of Columbia primary was also a record low, but there was no public interest in this primary in a totally Democratically dominated city.

–Of the 33 states which had statewide primaries in both parties and had those races in both 2002 and 2006, only six reported increases in turnout, led by Nebraska (up 10.6 percentage points), Alaska (7.7), Montana (7.0) and Ohio (6.9). The greatest decreases were reported in New Hampshire (down 10.3 percentage points), followed by Wyoming (7.9), Michigan (7.5), Wisconsin (6.7), New Mexico (6.2), Illinois (6.1) and Kansas (6.1). None of the states which had statewide primaries in two parties in both 2006 and 1966 reported higher turnout, with the sharpest declines occurring Nevada (down 26.7 percentage points), Minnesota (24.4), California (24.2), Idaho (23.8) and Oklahoma (22.9).

–The highest turnouts in states with statewide primaries in both parties were recorded in Alaska (33.2 percent of eligibles), followed by Hawaii (30.5), Montana (28.5), Nebraska (27.5) and Wyoming (26.8).

–Only one-third (13 of 39) of the states which held Democratic statewide primaries and for which there were comparable statewide primaries in 2002 recorded increases in turnout, led by Montana (up 5.2 percentage pints), followed by Hawaii (5.2), the District of Columbia (4.8), Ohio (3.8), Massachusetts (3.5) and Alaska (3.4). The largest decline was recorded in Michigan (7.3 percentage points), followed by South Dakota (6.1), Pennsylvania (5.5), Wisconsin (5.2), Alabama (5.0), Florida (4.8) and Rhode island (4.7). Only three of 30 states which held statewide Democratic primaries in both 2006 and 1966 recorded increases in turnout and they were minuscule – Iowa (up 2.0 percentage points) followed by Massachusetts (0.7) and Ohio (0.2). The decreases were substantially greater led by Alabama (down 37.7 percentage points) followed by Tennessee (24.6), Oklahoma (23.6), Florida (21.5), Georgia (21.3) and Nevada (21.3).

–The highest turnout in a statewide Democratic primary was recorded in the non-state District of Columbia whose mayor’s race is used for historical comparison at 27.5 percent of eligibles voting, followed by Hawaii (26.9), Massachusetts (20.2), Montana (15.0), Maryland (13.9), Washington (13.2) and West Virginia (13.0). The lowest Democratic turnout was recorded in Virginia (2.9 percent of eligibles voting), followed by Idaho (3.0), New Jersey (3.3), Texas (3.5), Kansas (3.9) and Colorado (4.2).

–Slightly less than one-third (11 of 35) of the states which held Republican statewide primaries in both 2002 and 2006 reported any increase in turnout, led by Nebraska (up 9.7 percentage points), followed by Alaska (5.6), Rhode Island (5.1) and Ohio (3.1). The largest declines were in New Hampshire (down 9.8 percentage points), followed by Iowa (5.8), Hawaii (5.5), Kansas (5.4) and Wyoming (4.6).Only five of 25 states which held statewide primaries in both 2006 and the apex year for mid-term primary turnout, 1966, recorded increases led by Alaska (up 9.7 percentage points), followed by Rhode Island (5.1), Florida (4.7) and Tennessee (4.0). The greatest declines over this period were recorded in New Hampshire (down 12.1 percentage points), California (11.5), Maine (9.3), Minnesota (8.9), Pennsylvania (8.7), Idaho (8.6) and Oregon (8.6)

The highest Republican statewide turnout was recorded in Alaska (22.3 percent of eligibles), followed by Nebraska (21.7), Wyoming (20.3), Idaho (13.5), Montana (13.5) and Alabama (13.3). The state with the lowest Republican turnout was Massachusetts (1.5 percent of eligibles), followed by New York (1.9), Delaware (2.4), New Jersey (3.0), Iowa (3.4)
and Hawaii (3.7).

A full set of tables supporting the findings of this study are available on the following websites:
http://www.american.edu/ccps/csae or http://www.american.edu/media/electionexperts .
http://domino.american.edu/AU/media/mediarel.nsf/b0af33083b8462d085256a1d00572a4b/c4906adb098c2482852572020081bf9a?OpenDocument

Answer 2

Remember when the words of the candidates were put in print in the local papers - word for word? Remember when they didn't bad mouth one another, slung mud, or said how they would continue to do a good job, or make the turn around for the better? They kept their word.. for the most part. They at least tried! Now, even the candidates mothers would be embarrassed by them! SHAME on those running for nothing more than self glorification and greed.
Here, in this household, we always vote. But trying to pick the better of the worse isn't always that easy.

Answer 3

Not enough. Either in the primary or the "real" elections.

To paraphrase the Romans "We do not say that those who don't involve themselves in politics mind their own business - rather that they have no business" Since these are the people who we have loosely based the Democratic system on, it is SHAMEFUL that we aren't more involved!

I don't care what people vote for - I don't expect anyone to be like me! - but it bothers me that they don't VOTE!

Answer 4

In my district, primary elections are lucky to get 1/3 turnout.

Answer 5

45 percent or less. and when you see the effects of the pelosi/reid regime its easy to understand why.

Answer 6

Not many, but this election will be different! Too much is at stake!