The U.S. presidential election in 2000 was the closest presidential race in the electoral vote since 1876. Yet, only a little over half of eligible voters chose to cast a vote.
Table 21
Presidential Election Voter Turnout
Year Percent of Eligible Voters Who Voted
1980 ……………………………………… 59.2
1984 ……………………………………… 59.9
1988 ……………………………………… 57.4
1992 ……………………………………… 61.9
1996 ……………………………………… 54.2
2000 ……………………………………… 54.7
2004 ……………………………………… 63.8
2008 ……………………………………… 63.6
2012 ……………………………………… 57.5
a. For the years listed in Table 21, find the changes in percent turnout from one presidential election to the next.
b. What was the greatest increase in percent turnout?
c. In 1993, in an attempt to increase the number of eligible voters, a “motor voter” law was passed that made voter registration a part of the process of applying for a driver’s license. As a result, about 11 million new voters were registered. Compare the change in percent turnout between 1992 and 1996 with other changes you found in part (a). On the basis of the information in Table 21 alone, we cannot know for sure, but does it seem that many of these 11 million people voted? Explain.