08 presidential election voter turnout

Voter turnout for Virginia in the 2008 and 2004 Presidential elections, as a percentage of voting-age population, for race groups and age groups.

Voter turnout, by percentage, of racial groups in the 2008 presidential election. Percentages refer to the stated racial group of citizens over 18. A blank value (light purple color) means the sample size is too low to measure accurately.

Although national voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election stayed statistically the same compared to the 2004 election, more voters did go to the polls in Virginia.

The U.S. Census Bureau released voter data on Monday from a nationwide survey in November of about 100,000 people.

Two age groups in Virginia turned out in higher percentages in the 2008 presidential election than the 2004 presidential election. About 52 percent of young adults 18 to 24 said they voted last November, while only 40 percent of that age group voted in 2004. Older voters also mobilized. About 79 percent of voters age 65 to 74 voted last November, up from 68 percent four years earlier.

In Virginia, African-Americans and Asians also turned out to a greater extent than they did in 2004, while whites and Hispanics showed no statistically significant change. About 68 percent of African-Americans voted last November, a 16-point jump from four years earlier. The percentage of Asians to the polls was even more dramatic: 61 percent in 2008 compared to 29 percent four years ago, although the Census Bureau said there was a larger margin of error due to a smaller sample size.

Statewide, Barack Obama beat John McCain, with 52.6 percent to 46.3 percent of the vote, respectively.