Registered Californians had 80.6% turnout!

This is great news. Here's the story from the L.A. Times:


More than 60% of California's eligible voters went to the polls

If only registered voters are tallied, the turnout was 80.6%. Final races are tallied: McClintock and Strickland win. Prop. 11 and Beverly Hills condo measure pass.

By Patrick McGreevy and Martha Groves

December 3, 2008

Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento — More than 60% of Californians who were eligible to vote cast ballots in the Nov. 4 presidential election, the highest turnout since Richard Nixon and George McGovern competed for the office in 1972, elections officials reported Tuesday.

The total includes all qualified citizens, including those who had not registered to vote. The percentage of registered voters who cast ballots statewide was 80.6% -- 81.9% in Los Angeles County.

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The high turnout in Los Angeles County, not seen since 1968, was a result of several factors, including strong voter interest in the presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain, according to Dean Logan, the county's Registrar-Recorder.

"It was the combination of an election that has historic significance to both major parties' tickets, the economic situation and the fact that there was no sitting president or vice president on the ballot," Logan said.

Controversial ballot measures, including a ban on gay marriage, also attracted Californians to the polls in high numbers.

The secretary of state will not post the voter totals until next week, but a survey of the counties indicates the highest turnout since 64.5% of all those eligible to vote cast ballots in 1972.

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