1. Who is Voting?

2. Urban vs. Rural Voter Turnout

11. 2008 Presidential Election Numbers (in thousands)
Age, sex, and educational attainment
Total Population
US Citizen
Total Citizen Population
Reported Registered
Not Registered
Reported Voted
Did Not Vote
Number
Percent
18 YEARS AND OVER
BOTH SEXES
.Total
225,499
206,072
146,311
71.0
59,761
29.0
131,144
63.6
74,928
36.4
64.9
58.2
.Less than 9th grade
11,097
6,813
3,342
49.1
3,471
50.9
2,599
38.1
4,215
61.9
30.1
23.4
.9th to 12th grade, no diploma
19,107
16,168
8,260
51.1
7,908
48.9
6,447
39.9
9,721
60.1
43.2
33.7
.High school graduate
70,427
65,378
41,880
64.1
23,498
35.9
35,866
54.9
29,513
45.1
59.5
.Some college or associate's degree
63,780
60,974
45,904
75.3
15,069
24.7
41,477
68.0
19,496
32.0
72.0
65.0
.Bachelor's degree
40,850
38,091
30,928
81.2
7,163
18.8
29,330
77.0
8,761
23.0
75.7
71.8
.Advanced degree
20,238
18,648
15,996
85.8
2,652
14.2
15,425
82.7
3,222
17.3
79.0
76.2

12. 2008 Presidential Election Numbers (in thousands)
Age, sex, and educational attainment
Total Population
US Citizen
Total Citizen Population
Reported Registered
Not Registered
Reported Voted
Did Not Vote
Number
Percent
FEMALE
.Total
116,525
107,255
78,069
72.8
29,186
27.2
70,415
65.7
36,840
34.3
67.0
60.4
.Less than 9th grade
5,509
3,486
1,678
48.1
1,807
51.9
1,274
36.5
2,212
63.5
30.5
23.1
.9th to 12th grade, no diploma
9,521
8,206
4,474
54.5
3,732
45.5
3,512
42.8
4,694
57.2
47.0
36.9
.High school graduate
35,801
33,396
22,253
66.6
11,143
33.4
19,310
57.8
14,086
42.2
62.2
53.9
.Some college or associate's degree
34,570
33,176
25,619
77.2
7,557
22.8
23,302
70.2
9,874
29.8
74.1
67.4
.Bachelor's degree
21,205
19,751
16,097
81.5
3,654
18.5
15,353
77.7
4,398
22.3
75.9
72.4
.Advanced degree
9,919
9,240
7,948
86.0
1,293
14.0
7,663
82.9
1,577
17.1
80.1
77.3

13. 2008 Presidential Election Numbers (in thousands)
Age, sex, and educational attainment
Total Population
US Citizen
Total Citizen Population
Reported Registered
Not Registered
Reported Voted
Did Not Vote
Number
Percent
MALE
.Total
108,974
98,818
68,242
69.1
30,576
30.9
60,729
61.5
38,088
38.5
62.6
55.7
.Less than 9th grade
5,589
3,328
1,664
50.0
1,325
39.8
2,003
60.2
29.8
23.7
.9th to 12th grade, no diploma
9,586
7,962
3,786
47.6
4,176
52.4
2,935
36.9
5,027
63.1
39.5
30.6
.High school graduate
34,627
31,982
19,627
61.4
12,355
38.6
16,555
51.8
15,427
48.2
56.7
47.8
.Some college or associate's degree
29,209
27,798
20,285
73.0
7,513
27.0
18,176
65.4
9,622
34.6
69.4
62.2
.Bachelor's degree
19,645
18,340
14,831
80.9
3,509
19.1
13,976
76.2
4,363
23.8
75.5
71.1
.Advanced degree
10,318
9,407
8,048
85.6
1,359
14.4
7,762
82.5
1,645
17.5
78.0
75.2

14. More recent trends in Voting
Voter Turnout in the 2004 and 2008 elections showed a noticeable increase over the turnout in 1996 and 2000.
While voter turnout has been decreasing (last 60 years), voter registration has been increasing.
Registration rates varied from 65% to 70% of the voting age population from the 1960s to the 1980s
Registration swelled to 75% in 1996 and 2000.
However, turnout has not greatly improved
50-60% since 1968
under 50% in 1996
61% in the 2008 election, the highest in 40 years

15. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote (from the home office in Cheyenne, Wyoming)
10) Cannot get to the polls 1%

16. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
9) Cannot leave job 3%
10) Cannot get to the polls 1%

17. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
8) Are away from home 3%
9) Cannot leave job 3%
10) Cannot get to the polls 1%

18. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
7) Are new residents in the area 4%
8) Are away from home 3%
9) Cannot leave job 3%
10) Cannot get to the polls 1%

19. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
6) Are not interested in politics 5%
7) Are new residents in the area 4%
8) Are away from home 3%
9) Cannot leave job 3%
10) Cannot get to the polls 1%

20. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
5) Are not US citizens 5%

21. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
4) Are sick or disabled 8%
5) Are not US citizens 5%

22. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
3) No particular reason 10%
4) Are sick or disabled 8%
5) Are not US citizens 5%

23. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
2) Do not like the candidates 17%
3) No particular reason 10%
4) Are sick or disabled 8%
5) Are not US citizens 5%

24. The Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Vote
1) Did not register 42%
2) Do not like the candidates 17%
3) No particular reason 10%
4) Are sick or disabled 8%
5) Are not US citizens 5%