Minnesota had highest voter turnout in the country

The nearly three million Minnesotans that cast their votes Tuesday put the state at the top of the list for voter turnout nationwide. Nearly 76 percent of eligible voters in the state made it to the polls and broke a record number of ballots cast, but the percentage of voters is actually lower than it was in 2008.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Nov 8, 2012

The nearly three million Minnesotans that cast their votes Tuesday put the state at the top of the list for voter turnout nationwide, the Associated Press reports.

Minnesota has a history of good voter participation, leading the national average in the last 20 presidential elections.

Nearly 76 percent of eligible voters in the state made it to the polls and broke a record number of ballots cast, but the percentage of voters is actually lower than it was in 2008.

The news service says preliminary numbers suggest fewer people in the country voted in this election compared to four years ago with an estimated overall turnout rate of about 57.5 percent, or 126 million voters compared to 131 million in 2008.

An American University analysis shows large drops came from the East Coast states in the wake of Superstorm Sandy where cleanup is still underway and another storm has already moved in.