Who Votes?

By Karen Shih
Maryland Newsline
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008

The presidential election is just a couple weeks away. Do you know who votes?

1. What percentage of voting-age Americans cast ballots in the 2004 presidential election?

37 percent
46 percent
52 percent
64 percent

2. What was the voting rate in 2004 for “youths” 18-24?

Around 20 percent
Just below 50 percent
More than 50 percent
Nearly 100 percent

3. How does youth registration from 2004 compare to this year?

58 percent vs. 75 percent
45 percent vs. 60 percent
58 percent vs. 62 percent
45 percent vs. 39 percent

4. Are more Americans now registered Democrats or Republicans?

Democrats
Republicans

5. Did more men or women vote in 2004?

Men
Women

California
Wisconsin
Minnesota
New Hampshire

7. What state had the lowest voting rate in 2004?

Hawaii
Alaska
Texas
Maryland

8. Where does the United States rank in terms of voter turnout, in a study of 172 countries?

Top 10
Around 40th-best
Around 140th
Dead last

9. What region has the highest voter turnout in the world?

Western Europe
Southeast Asia
North America
Oceania

10. Which of the following countries enforces compulsory voting?

The United States
Australia
Egypt
Italy

Copyright © 2008 University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism

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