Graying of Washington's electorate
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Fresh numbers from the Washington Elections Division show the number of younger voters dropping as a percentage of the electorate – and their elders, 55 and older, growing as a bloc.
The state has nearly 3.6 million registered voters. The closely watched youngest voters have traditionally the lowest voter turnout rate of all segments of the population – a perplexing reality that keeps election outreach workers searching for ways to connect. The new figures show that the pool of 18-to 24-year olds eligible for this week's election was 9 percent of the total electorate, shrinking from 10 percent last year.
The segments between 25 and 54 were little changed. But the older voters, 55 and older, grew as a share of the overall electorate.
Here's the grid provided by Elections' David Motz, our registration whiz:
| Age Bracket | % of November '08's WA electorate | % of November '09's WA electorate |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 yrs old | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| 25-34 yrs old | 15.4 | 15.4 |
| 35-44 yrs old | 17.2 | 16.9 |
| 45-54 yrs old | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| 55-64 yrs old | 18.2 | 18.9 |
| 65 yrs and older | 18.3 | 19.1 |
| 100.0 | 100.0 |
After this year's election is certified next month, we'll be able to find out the turnout by age bracket. Last year, 18-24-year olds had a 68 percent turnout and each age segment had a progressively better rate, including an amazing 91 percent participation by folks 55 and older!
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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