Voter Turnout Outpaces Last Two Elections

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Turnout

Though votes are still being counted out west – and there are provisional and absentee ballots outstanding – CBS News is estimating that the final turnout in the 2008 election will be 133 million or more Americans, many of whom endured hours-long waits Tuesday to cast their ballots.

133 million votes would mean that 57 percent of the voting age population cast a ballot, CBS News estimates, up from 55 percent in 2004 and 50 percent in 2000.

The percentage turnout in this election is unlikely to be the highest in American history – as the Associated Press notes, the turnout rate in 1960's presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was 63.8 percent.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by pony1225 November 6, 2008 6:09 PM EST: Did anyone stop to think, we have been cleaning up the messes the Dems left us years ago, great here we go again.
Impeach Obama or Stoppa Obama!!; Reply to this comment


by ken3331 November 6, 2008 2:28 PM EST: You voted for higher taxes. You%u2019re going to pay them too%u2026 just like me. You voted for more government and less freedom. You voted for cuts in military spending as we fight 2 wars against a committed enemy. You voted for the same people and policies that have devastated the housing market and our economy. You have given the reins of power to the most under qualified, inexperienced and dubious candidate in our lifetime. This is not debatable. You chose an unknown quantity over a giant who has spent his life in service to America and who in the words of your own standard bearers has the right stuff for the presidency.

All that being said, what is done is done. Enjoy your victory, but as the euphoria fades, remember the ball is now in your court. There will be no George Bush or any republicans to blame now. It%u2019s now time to put up or shut up. I for one will give President elect Obama and this new administration the benefit of the doubt but I and my conservative brethren will be watching closely and if and when things go awry we will know exactly where to lay the blame.

Congratulations. Good luck and God Bless; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt November 6, 2008 10:16 AM EST: Here Lies Neoconism

Born: January 20, 2001

Died: November 4, 2008

R.I.P.; Reply to this comment


by texbestest November 5, 2008 11:33 PM EST: While it may seem like fun to harrass Republicans following the outcome of this election, it would be wiser to encourage them to work in concert with Dems and Indepedents to solve the serious problems our country and the world face.; Reply to this comment


by texbestest November 5, 2008 11:30 PM EST: It would be wonderful to have an even higher voter turnout. Wonder if they had early voting in 1960?

If we could get a secure online voting mechanism, maybe we could get much higher voter participation.; Reply to this comment


by pony1225 November 5, 2008 11:01 PM EST: I would love to see a day when a U.S. presidental election is based on Godly moral character, not history or color of skin. I think we have made history of only being the most ignorant nation on this earth.; Reply to this comment


by earache4 November 5, 2008 10:44 PM EST: and then there was Palin...who mistakenly cast her ballot on a keno machine....Couldn''t figure out why it kept taking quarters....; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 November 5, 2008 7:32 PM EST: This election is for you too CBNisPravda/OneAmerican1-8!; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 November 5, 2008 6:09 PM EST: "There''s a sense that the Republican Party is broken, but the conservative movement is not." %u2013is this more doublespeak? victory is losing. war is peace, and ingorance is enlightenment?

Rush Limbaugh and the Right Wing Media are attempting to trumpet this mantra to their disappointed mindless followers in effort to present some sort of positive accomplishment in the morning after the result of 8 years of horrendous failure of the Conservative Agenda on the United States.

The 2008 election has been an referendum on the Republican Political Party that has used and abused their own constituancy and has taken everything they could from the American People during their time in power. We must remember what these people have done, and always keep in mind what their potential could be if allowed to dictate policy in the future for America.

It was Rush Limbaugh that always spouted to the Liberals to %u201Ctry to win some elections my friends!%u201D

This one%u2019s for you Rush%u2026; Reply to this comment