W.Va. turnout lowest in at least 6 decades [View all]

[theHandpuppet]

The Charleston Gazette
Thursday, November 6, 2014
W.Va. turnout lowest in at least 6 decades
By Jonathan Mattise

The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. – While West Virginia Republicans made historic gains this election, the state’s voters set a low mark for making their voices heard.

A paltry 37.3 percent of registered voters cast ballots in this year’s general election, the lowest turnout for a regular general election in at least 64 years, according to figures from the secretary of state.

The next lowest general election turnout in the last six decades was 40 percent in the 1998 midterms. The secretary of state’s numbers only date back to 1950.

Even for recent trends, this year’s turnout was lousy. In 2010, 43.4 percent of voters cast ballots, compared to 41.6 percent in 2006 and 42.4 percent in 2002.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141106/GZ01/141109515/1137#sthash.m2tsn1zB.dpuf