California Election by the Numbers

Elections are all about votes, numbers, and percentages. For example... 270... the Electoral College votes needed to elect a U.S. President. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen must dream about votes and numbers ... and counting votes. Her office has released a fact sheet regarding the November 2012 General Election in California. Take a good look at those numbers, but before you do, know that the 18 million plus registered voters is an all-time high in California. That's 950,000 new voters since the 2008 Presidential election. All those new voters plus a huge number of vote-by-mail ballots may turn Election Night... into Election Week according to some elections observers. Also, you'll see Republicans have now fallen below 30% registration in the Golden State. Looks like California is staying "Blue" for some time and the GOP has their work cut out for them. Nearly 21% of those registered declined a party preference and they'll be the most courted voters in California.

18,245,970

Californians registered to vote in the November 6 presidential election

24,491

Precincts throughout the state's 58 counties

154

Legislative and congressional seats up for election: 20 State Senate, 80 State Assembly, 1 U.S. Senate, 53 U.S. House of Representatives (Note: There is also a special primary election in the 4th Senate District, a seat that is scheduled for a regular election in 2014 but was vacated in September 2012.)

320

Certified federal and state candidates on the ballot

9.1 million

Vote-by-mail ballots issued (as reported by county elections officials)

7

Qualified political parties in California

3,820,545

Voters registered with no political party preference (20.9% of registered voters)

7,966,422

Voters registered with Democratic Party preference (43.7% of registered voters)

5,356,608

Voters registered with Republican Party preference (29.4% of registered voters)

117

Statewide initiatives approved by voters in the 100 years since direct democracy was established in California

88.4%

Highest turnout percentage of registered voters in a presidential election (in 1964)

65.5%

Lowest turnout percentage of registered voters in a presidential election (in 1996)

28

Days county elections officials have to complete vote-tallying and auditing

Comments

[mightystudents]

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