State voter survey finds turnout increases with age

The Secretary of State’s elections division last week released statistics on voting age population relating to the November General Election.

The state estimates 5,557,921 residents make up the state’s voting age population, and nearly 77 percent of those are registered (4,270,270). Among registered voters, nearly 79 percent submitted ballots for the General Election (3,363,440). Compared to the voting age population, though, approximately 60.5 percent of the state turned out.

The elections division also broke down the vote by age and gender.

Among registered voters, the 65 and up age group turned out with the highest percentage of votes cast for both females (78 percent) and males (80 percent), averaging out to 79 percent of that registered age population casting votes. There were nearly 850,000 voters aged 65 and older casting ballots.

The next age group was 55-64, with 74 percent of females and 70 percent of males casting ballots for an average of 72 percent in this age division. This group cast approximately 687,000 ballots.

Percentage turnout continues downward with 45 to 54-year-olds coming in third with 65 percent of females and 60 percent of males casting votes for an average of 62.5 percent. Approximately 592,072 votes were cast in this age group.

Next were the 35 to 44-year-olds, coming in fourth with 59 percent of females casting ballots and 52 percent of males for an average of 55.5 percent amongst the entire age group. This division cast nearly 511,500 ballots.

Following were the 25 to 34-year-olds with 53 percent of females and 43 percent of males casting ballots, averaging to 48 percent total. This group submitted approximately 479,600 ballots.

Finally, 18 to 24-year-olds averaged a 35.5 percent return, with females casting at 39.5 percent and males at 31.5 percent with a total of approximately 237,000 ballots cast.

The elections division also broke down registration among the state’s voting age population. Total, 65 and up had the highest percentage registered at 88.5 percent, 55 to 64-year-olds came in at 83.6 percent, 45 to 54-year-olds at 76.9 percent, 35 to 44-year-olds at 73.7, 25 to 34-year-olds at 73.2 percent and 18 to 24-year-olds at 60.2 percent. The rankings stayed in place amongst registered males in age groups, but on the female side, 25 to 34-year-olds (No. 4) were actually ahead of the 35 to 44-year-olds (No. 5).

The data is based off of the certified vote. The full charts are available at sos.wa.gov. The elections division did not break down age and gender groups by county.