2018 midterm turnout largest in 104 years

[left-of-center2012]

Preliminary figures for nationwide turnout in the 2018 mid-term elections are in, and they've reached a mark not seen in more than a century. Across the US, 49.2% of the voting age public cast ballots. In 2014 that number was 37%, and the average over the last few decades has hovered around 40%.

The last time turnout for a mid-term topped 50% was 1914 - before women had the vote in the US.

In some states, the numbers were even higher. Washington and Colorado, which heavily utilise voting by mail, topped the list at 69.4% and 65.5%, respectively. Minnesota, always a high-participation state, came in at 64.3% this year.

Even states with lower 2018 turnout saw sharp increases over recent midterms. In Texas enthusiasm generated by Democrat Beto O'Rourke (who was narrowly defeated) helped boost turnout to 46.1%, compared to 28.3% in 2014. Georgia, which had a contentious governor race, saw an increase from 38.6% to 55%.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46119736

[malaise]

1. Bwaaaaaaaaah

Take that you vile MAGAcretin

Bigly licks!

[lark]

2. #BLUEWAVE

It's about time this happened and is still egregiously low compared to what it should be. I wish all states would move to either the WA or CO models, or even NB, but repugs wouldn't allow that for FL, repugs want to continue cheating with voter suppression, sending bad machines to So. FL., using bad ballot designs in So. FL., insufficient polling places and poling places behind locked gates.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Here in Philly, I was shocked at our 52% turnout for a mid-term

http://phillyelectionresults.com/

Usually the "contested" mid-terms (notably when we have a governor's race), the turnout is maybe near the 40% range, if that.

For example, in the 2014 gubernatorial election, Wolf (D) got - 333,539 votes from Philly. But in this year's gubernatorial election, Wolf (D) got 469,613 votes, an almost 30% increase. I.e., the 2014 election was a 36% turnout.