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National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960-1996

Year Voting Age Population Registration Turnout % T/O of VAP
1996 196,511,000 146,211,960 96,456,345 49.08%
1994 193,650,000 130,292,822 75,105,860 38.78%
1992 189,529,000 133,821,178 104,405,155 55.09%
1990 185,812,000 121,105,630 67,859,189 36.52%
1988 182,778,000 126,379,628 91,594,693 50.11%
1986 178,566,000 118,399,984 64,991,128 36.40%
1984 174,466,000 124,150,614 92,652,680 53.11%
1982 169,938,000 110,671,225 67,615,576 39.79%
1980 164,597,000 113,043,734 86,515,221 52.56%
1978 158,373,000 103,291,265 58,917,938 37.21%
1976 152,309,190 105,037,986 81,555,789 53.55%
1974 146,336,000 96,199,020* 55,943,834 38.23%
1972 140,776,000 97,328,541 77,718,554 55.21%
1970 124,498,000 82,496,747# 58,014,338 46.60%
1968 120,328,186 81,658,180 73,211,875 60.84%
1966 116,132,000 76,288,283^ 56,188,046 48.39%
1964 114,090,000 73,715,818 70,644,592 61.92%
1962 112,423,000 65,393,751+ 53,141,227 47.27%
1960 109,159,000 64,833,096x 68,838,204 63.06%
Definitions: % T/O of VAP=Percent Turnout of Voting Age Population
*Registrations from Iowa not included
#Registrations from Iowa and Missouri not included
^Registrations from IA, KS, MS, MO, NE, and WY not included. D.C. had not independent status.
+Registrations from AL, AK, DC, IA, KS, KY, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, SD, TN, WI, and WY not included
xRegistrations from AL, AK, DC, IA, KS, KY, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, ND, OK, SD, WI, and WY not included

Data drawn from Congressional Research Service reports, Election Data Services Inc., and State Election Offices