Ohio's voter turnout was lower Tuesday than in 2004

Experts confounded: Turnout higher in Ohio in 2004
Friday, November 7, 2008 3:20 AM
By Mark Niquette

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Despite a record number of registered voters this year, intense interest in the presidential election and the historic outcome, Ohio's voter turnout was lower Tuesday than in 2004, unofficial statistics show.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is reporting 67 percent turnout, compared with 72 percent in 2004. She had been predicting 80 percent turnout this time.

The percentage could increase as provisional ballots, overseas ballots and other outstanding votes are included during the official canvass in the coming weeks.

But overall turnout still is expected to be lower than in 2004, leaving experts at a loss to explain it -- especially because the number of registered voters increased by 319,000 from four years ago.

"That's rather puzzling, given the activity level," said Paul Beck, a political-science professor at Ohio State University.

The total number of votes cast Tuesday declined in 69 of Ohio's 88 counties when compared with official totals from 2004. In Franklin County, for example, about 10,000 fewer votes were cast this year.

Although Brunner's office said the totals include 181,000 provisional ballots reported so far statewide, some counties said that's not the case. But the turnout percentage still will be lower than 2004.
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