Republicans Are Voting In Far Greater Numbers Than Democrats

"Voting"

09/08/2010

npr News
Sept. 8, 2010


WASHINGTON — Looking for yet another sign Democrats are in trouble? Take note of who is showing up to vote in the primaries.
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For the first time since 1930, Republican votes for statewide offices are outnumbering Democratic votes, according to an analysis from American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

And Republicans, eager to campaign against Democrats who control the House, Senate and White House, are casting primary ballots at the highest rate since 1970.

"It isn't surprising that Republican turnout increased,'' said Curtis Gans, director of the center, citing intense battles within the party and the opportunity for GOP gains in Congress and in governors' offices. "But what's likely to prove telling is the lower participation of the Democrats, the first tangible demonstration of what polls have been showing — a distinct lack of
enthusiasm among the Democratic rank and file.''

The study looked at the 35 statewide primaries held before Sept. 1, based on final and official results for the primaries before Aug. 17 and final but unofficial results for those primaries that occurred later. So far, more than 30 million people have cast ballots in the nominating contests. Republicans had three more statewide contests than Democrats: Indiana, South Dakota and Utah. The total votes cast in those primaries was 826,603, hardly enough to explain the more than 4 million-vote gap between Republicans and Democrats.