Voter Turnout in Colo. a Record 87 Percent

[Freddie Stubbs]

DENVER Dec 14, 2004 — Colorado's voter turnout in November's general election that featured hotly contested presidential and Senate races was 87 percent a record for the state.

More than 2.1 million of the state's 2.4 million active voters went to the polls, according to data released Tuesday by Secretary of State Donetta Davidson. The office considers voters active if they cast ballots in the 2002 or 2003 general elections.

"Traditionally, voter turnout is always higher during a presidential election, but these numbers are truly incredible," Davidson said in a statement.

The state hasn't had a turnout greater than 80 percent since the 1980s and no election has ever reached 87 percent, she said.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=331909

[SmokingJacket]

1. The article doesn't say how they came to these numbers.

Was it an increase in the number of total votes? Or did they actually look at the pollbooks and see that 87% of the actual registered voters showed up?

I don't take anything at face value these days.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Their calculations are wrong

What about new registered voters that voted?
What about those not voting in 2002 or 2003 that voted?
What about those not voting in 2002 AND 2003 that voted?

The only legitimate determination of those voting is basing it on how many were eligible to be registered to vote.

[F.Gordon]

3. Actual turnout was 69%

Still damn good.

Comparing Reporting Numbers to Total A/I for Denver metro area.

County / Reported / Actual w/I

Adams / 89% / 62%
Arapahoe / 92% / 65%
Broomfield / 94% / 76%
Boulder / 91% / 75%
Denver / 79% / 65%
Douglas / 96% / 79%
Jefferson / 89% / 73%

I don't get Denver. Our big Blue County had the worst turnout and apparently didn't pull the Inactive Voter numbers like the other counties did.
:shrug:

[LiberalFighter]

4. Closer to the truth but comparisons then cannot be made between states

The only appropriate way to judge turnout is by including ALL eligible to be registered to vote. The latest census data for the state could be used or use 75% that are of voting age. States like Florida and Arizona would have to use a higher percentage because of retirees. There is also the state restrictions on eligibility, mental capacity and felons or those in prison.