PRESS RELEASE from California
Secretary of State
DB08:108
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Folmar
December 13, 2008 (916) 653-6575
Secretary of State
Debra Bowen Reports Record Number
Of Californians Cast
Ballots in November General Election
SACRAMENTO – More than 13.7 million voters cast ballots in
the November 4, 2008, General Election, setting a new California record
for the number of ballots cast in an election, according to final
results certified today by Secretary of State Debra Bowen.
The previous record for the number of votes cast in a California
election was nearly 12.6 million, set in November 2004. This November,
79.4% of California’s 17.3 million registered voters cast ballots,
marking the highest turnout on a percentage basis since 1976. The
highest-ever percentage turnout in a California election was nearly
88.4% in 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater in the
presidential contest.
“This was an election for the history books,” said Secretary Bowen, the
state’s chief elections officer. “Record numbers of Californians
registered to vote and cast ballots in an exceptionally smooth
election. I applaud voters for getting so involved in their democracy
and I happily tip my hat to county elections officials for running such
a successful election.”
The counties with the highest turnout on a percentage basis were Sonoma
at 93.4%, Marin at 90.8%, and Amador at 88.6%. Turnout was also strong
in California’s most populous counties of Los Angeles (78.4%), San
Diego (83.7%), Orange (72.6%), San Bernardino (74.3%), and Riverside
(78.5%).
More than 5.7 million voters, or 41.6%, cast their ballots by mail. The
remaining 8 million California voters, or 58.4%, voted in polling
places.
The certified election results are available on the Secretary of
State’s website at
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/contents.htm.
County-by-county statistics on the number of voters who cast ballots by
mail or at polling places are available at
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/3_voter_part_stats_by_county.pdf.
Historical statistics on voter eligibility, registration, and turnout
are available at
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/4_historical_voter_reg_and_participation.pdf.
The Statement of Vote shows presidential results broken down by county.
It also includes statewide and county-specific results for the 12
statewide ballot measures on the November ballot.
The Secretary of State’s office will release a Supplement to the
Statement of Vote by April 12. It will include more details on how
votes were cast by Senate, Assembly, Board of Equalization, and county
supervisorial districts, as well as by city.
California’s next regularly scheduled statewide election is the June 8,
2010, Primary Election. More information about state elections is
available at
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm.
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