WASHINGTON -- October 26 --Every four years, voters head to the polls to select our nation's president. The process begins with a series of primaries and caucuses in the winter and spring and culminates with the general election in November. With the 2004 presidential election fast approaching on Nov. 2, the Census Bureau has culled from previously released statistical reports the following election-related facts:

The Electoral College

8: The number of states that gained electoral votes, based on Census 2000 results, since the last presidential election in 2000. Four of these states Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas each gained two votes. The other four California, Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina gained one apiece. http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-7.pdf

10: Number of states with fewer electoral votes in 2004 than in 2000. Two states New York and Pennsylvania each lost two votes. The other eight Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wisconsin each lost one vote. http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-7.pdf

Voting-Age Population

217.8 million: Number of voting-age U.S. residents. Of this number, 153.9 million were single-race non-Hispanic white, 26.4 million were black, 26.3 million Hispanic, 10.0 million Asian, 3.0 million American Indian or Alaska native and 647,000 native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander. (A portion of these residents are ineligible to vote because they are noncitizens.) http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/race/001839.html

California had the highest number of residents 18 and older (26.1 million) in 2003, followed by Texas (15.9 million), New York (14.7 million), Florida (13.1 million) and Pennsylvania (9.5 million). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001703.html

California added the highest number of voting-age persons since 2000 (1.4 million), followed by Texas (913,000), Florida (759,000), and Georgia and New York (371,000 each). Nationally, 8.6 million adult residents were added. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001703.html

Presidential Election: 2000

The following data are from the November 2000 Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS routinely overestimates participation: its estimate of overall turnout (111 million) exceeds the "official" turnout (105.6 million votes cast), as reported by the Clerk of the House.

State Turnout Trends

At or about 70 percent: The 2000 presidential election voting rates in the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine and Minnesota, highest in the nation.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

National Turnout Trends

60 percent: Percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots in the November 2000 presidential election, slightly higher than the 58 percent who voted in 1996. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

70 percent: Percentage of citizens who were registered to vote in 2000, compared with the 71 percent registered in 1996. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

111 million: The number of people who voted in the 2000 presidential election, short of the record high of 114 million set in 1992. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

86 percent: Among citizens registered to vote in the 2000 presidential election, the percentage who reported they cast ballots. That was up from 82 percent in 1996. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

61 percent: Percentage of eligible women voters who voted in the 2000 presidential election. That is higher than the 58 percent of men who voted. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

72 percent: The percentage of citizens ages 65 to 74 who voted in the 2000 presidential election. This age group traditionally has the highest voting participation of any age group. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

21 percent: Among people who said they were registered to vote in 2000 but did not actually vote, the percentage who gave as a reason that they were too busy or had conflicting work or school schedules. This was the most common reason given for not voting. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/000505.html

From time to time, special editions of the U.S. Census Bureau's Facts for Features are issued to commemorate anniversaries or observances or to provide background information for topics in the news. Below is a listing of previous such editions:

Opening of the National Museum of the American Indian (Sept. 21, 2004)

National Adoption Month (Sept. 20, 2004)

Unmarried and Single Americans Week (July 19, 2004)

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders Honored in May (May 17, 2004)

Civil Rights Act of 1964: 40th Anniversary (May 3, 2004)

53rd Anniversary of the UNIVAC Computer (May 3, 2004)

Dedication of National World War II Memorial (May 3, 2004)

Teacher Appreciation Week (April 22, 2004)

Cinco de Mayo (April 21, 2004)

50th Anniversary of 'Wonderful World of Color' in Television (March 11, 2004)

Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (March 10, 2004)

Brown v. Board of Education: 50th Anniversary (Feb. 4, 2004)

The 2004 Presidential Election (Jan. 6, 2004)

Social Security COLA (Dec. 11, 2003)

First Flight Centennial (Dec. 3, 2003)

Dialing for Dollars (Sept. 24, 2003)

Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial (May 12, 2003)

Tax Time (April 11, 2003)

U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans (April 10, 2003)

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