Record Turnout in Florida

Florida Democrats defied analysts and turned out huge yesterday. More than 1.7 million Democrats (per the Florida Democratic Party) voted in Tuesday's primary. Choosing Hilary Clinton as their nominee, with Obama far behind.

For all the talk of a 'high' turnout, only around 30% of Floridians cast ballots yesterday. Not even half of eligible voters. According to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau, theoretically, around 13 million people are eligible to vote. Literally, only 3% of the (theoretical) eligible population participated is choosing our nominee.*

We definitely turned out voters better than previous years. But, the numbers of people participating in the political process remains dismal.

(*Don't hold me to the math. It is not necessarily my strong suite.)



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/30/florida-voters-turn-out-f_n_84004.html

"A close Republican presidential race and a proposal to lower property taxes brought out Florida voters in large numbers Tuesday.

Turnout was estimated at 30 percent, with about 3 million voters casting ballots _ 1.4 million Democrats and 1.6 million Republicans. That was well up from the approximately 20 percent who cast ballots in the 2000 and 2004 presidential primaries, which was held after the nominees were decided, and the 2006 gubernatorial primary."