Can We Crack 60% Voter Turnout This Year? Last time was 1968

[Median Democrat]

The sad fact is that voter turnout has been and continues to be dismal. 1968 was the last year we cracked 60% of the voting age population. Could voter turnout be the key for the 2008 election?

The MSM, of course, is hopelessly biased. However, if Obama's campaign uses the ground game to mobilize people to actually vote, particularly in areas who demographics trend democratic, is it possible to whittle away at the GOP's advantage in controlling Big Media?

Year Voting-age
population Voter
registration Voter turnout Turnout of voting-age
population (percent)
2006 220,600,000 135,889,600 80,588,000 43.6%
2004 221,256,931 174,800,000 122,294,978 55.3
2002 215,473,000 150,990,598 79,830,119 37.0
2000 205,815,000 156,421,311 105,586,274 51.3
1998 200,929,000 141,850,558 73,117,022 36.4
1996 196,511,000 146,211,960 96,456,345 49.1
1994 193,650,000 130,292,822 75,105,860 38.8
1992 189,529,000 133,821,178 104,405,155 55.1
1990 185,812,000 121,105,630 67,859,189 36.5
1988 182,778,000 126,379,628 91,594,693 50.1
1986 178,566,000 118,399,984 64,991,128 36.4
1984 174,466,000 124,150,614 92,652,680 53.1
1982 169,938,000 110,671,225 67,615,576 39.8
1980 164,597,000 113,043,734 86,515,221 52.6
1978 158,373,000 103,291,265 58,917,938 37.2
1976 152,309,190 105,037,986 81,555,789 53.6
1974 146,336,000 96,199,0201 55,943,834 38.2
1972 140,776,000 97,328,541 77,718,554 55.2
1970 124,498,000 82,496,7472 58,014,338 46.6
1968 120,328,186 81,658,180 73,211,875 60.8
1966 116,132,000 76,288,2833 56,188,046 48.4
1964 114,090,000 73,715,818 70,644,592 61.9
1962 112,423,000 65,393,7514 53,141,227 47.3
1960 109,159,000 64,833,0965 68,838,204 63.1

[NYC_SKP]

1. Yes. We. Can.

Let's do it like 60 and 68!

:patriot:

[Unsane]

2. Yeah, because '68 was so great for us.

[enigmatic]

3. no

But I can easily see it being the highest since 1968..

[Awsi Dooger]

4. 2006 is a hint that it will be up

Look at the direct reference points, the midterm turnout:

* 1974: 38.2
* 1978: 37.2
* 1982: 39.8
* 1986: 36.4
* 1990: 36.5
* 1994: 38.8
* 1998: 36.4
* 2002: 37.0
* 2006: 43.6

[loyalsister]

5. Liberal interest GOTV efforts will dovetail

If people will actually volunteer. It should be doable to at least come close. I know that more people in my family are voting than have in the past.

[KillCapitalism]

6. We REALLY have to get the 18-29 voting block out in large numbers.

The millennials/Gen Y'ers are a large group, and they favor Obama by about 5 to 1.

[Median Democrat]

8. The Obama Camp Recognizes This - Past Elections Lost and Won On The Margin

Increasing voter turnout will not only require getting people to commit to voting, but it will also require efforts by voters themselves to take steps to insure that they are registered. Remember how voting rolls have been purged AND how in 2004, there were several instances of Republican run voter registration groups throwing out the registrations of folks who regsistered as Democrats.

I think this election will be unprecedented with respect to GOP efforts to disenfranchise Democratic voters.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Its the only way we will win against the machine.

Pink Floyd also supports Obama