Democratic Primary Turnout Lowest in 80 Years, Study Shows

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans ,; Democrats ,; Campaign 2010

A voter steps out of the voting booth at a polling station at the Pine Street Pizza in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

(Credit: AP)

More Republicans voted in this year's statewide primary elections than Democrats, according to a new study, marking the first time GOP turnout has exceeded Democratic turnout in midterm primaries since 1930.

Republican turnout exceeded Democratic turnout in the primaries held through August 28 by more than four million votes, according to Curtis Gans, director of American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate. While the average percentage of eligible citizens who voted in the GOP statewide primaries was the highest since 1970, the average percentage of eligible citizens who voted in Democratic primaries reached an 80-year low.

Gans cited voter dissatisfaction over the economy, as well as the intense primary battles within the Republican Party -- in part fueled by Tea Party challengers -- for the increase in Republican turnout.

More telling, however, is the low participation rates among Democrats, Gans said. He called it "the first tangible demonstration of what polls have been showing - a distinct lack of enthusiasm among the Democratic rank and file."

Gans reviewed the 35 statewide primaries held before September 1. The GOP had three more statewide contests than the Democrats-- in Indiana, South Dakota and Utah -- but just 826,603 votes were cast in those races. In other cases, such as the California Senate race, both parties held primaries, but the nominating contest was hotly contested on the GOP side while the result was a foregone conclusion on the Democratic side.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

Republican turnout increased in all but five states out of 35, according to Gans, and GOP statewide primary turnout reached new records in nine states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

Democratic statewide primary turnout, meanwhile, fell to record lows in 10 states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Gans also noted in his analysis that the combined turnout in the 32 states that had both Democratic and Republican statewide primaries exceeded turnout in 2006, but tied 1998 for the second-lowest turnout level ever.

"These figures speak to the falling away of an ever larger slice of the population from active political participation and the continuing decline in public involvement with the major political parties, reducing their ability to serve as forces of cohesion within the American polity," Gans said.

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by crazy-in-Seattle September 9, 2010 12:14 PM EDT: To all right wingers (aka republicans). Are you kidding? Clinton left office with money in the bank (not that I was a fan of his slight right of center politics). Good old GW left us bankrupt, trillions in deficit, sucking the money out of the treasury for a questionable war and billions of dollars of tax breaks for the richest 2%. He and his croonies deregulated the banks and wall street that left us on the brink of a depression. The rich are getting richer off your backs and you all fall for it. What world do you live in? Hello, please stop drinking the cool aide (seriously it's bad for you) and wake up.; Reply to this comment


by Dave_P6 September 8, 2010 1:31 AM EDT: DEMOCRATS: PLEASE GET OUT THERE AND VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO DO THE SAME!!; Reply to this comment


by getcentered September 7, 2010 11:44 PM EDT: The headline itself is the story.

How a story published all over the internet explains nothing accept that the Democrats are not trying to kick each other out of office.

Turnout in this was is actually expressing confidence in the Democratic leadership.

Or lack of a Democratic challenger to raise finds to campaign against the Democratic incumbent.; Reply to this comment


by getcentered September 7, 2010 10:01 PM EDT: Democrats are in power. Why would there be heavy turnout?; Reply to this comment

by johne37179-2 September 7, 2010 7:41 PM EDT

Who would want to be identified as a Democrat after all the damage they have done to the country?

Reply to this comment


by jimbom121 September 8, 2010 2:42 PM EDT: As opposed to what the GOP has done?


by crazy-in-Seattle September 9, 2010 12:14 PM EDT: Are you kidding? Clinton left office with money in the bank. Good old GW left us bankrupt, sucked the money out of the treasury for a questionable war and billions of dollars of tax breaks for the richest 2%. He and his croonies deregulated the bank and wall street that left us on the brink of depression. What world do you live in? Hello, please wake up.


by Cru09 September 7, 2010 7:27 PM EDT: The only democratic candidate people have actually been hot for is Obama. Every other running is met with "meh."

This is much like the Virginia governor's race: People will gloat about it as a huge win for Republicans, when he was basically using all of Obama's campaign imagery, blue signs, and a moderate stance (until he got into office), and running against a lackluster conservative democrat.

But whatever, if this is how people get their kicks, so be it.; Reply to this comment


by dtroppy September 7, 2010 7:26 PM EDT: With everything the Republicans have done to the America people for the last 30 years which by the way they had 20 years of leadership, there is just no way they will gain power once again to destroy the working class.
www.thethrifters.net; Reply to this comment

by gjconely September 7, 2010 7:13 PM EDT

Maybe people are realizing that the democrats offer no tangible solution to the huge debt that they have created?

Reply to this comment


by jimbom121 September 8, 2010 2:43 PM EDT: ummm, who created? Didn't Bush inherit a budget surplus?


by bradkt1 September 7, 2010 6:47 PM EDT: The study was total waste of money because there so few primary challenges. People by and large knew who the Democratic nominees were going to be.

That is not a valid predictor about what may happen in the general election in November.; Reply to this comment


by TimB.MCSE September 7, 2010 6:37 PM EDT: Unlike the press, the Democratic public, are sick to their stomach over Obama and his "Change" too. I thought he would do what he promised....I guess denial doesn't make it any better huh....What a train wreck.; Reply to this comment