Highlights From The November 1994 Voting Survey
- In the election of November 1994, 86 million persons reported that
they had voted, representing 45 percent of the electorate 18 years and
over. This turnout rate was unchanged from the previous mid-term election
year in 1990.
- Voter turnout for Whites 18 years and over was 47 percent, compared
with 37 percent for Blacks and only 20 percent for persons of Hispanic
origin. Asians voted at levels similar to Hispanics, recording a turnout
rate of only 22 percent.
- Historically, the Census Bureau has calculated voter rates on the
basis of the total resident population, because estimates regarding
citizenship status were not directly asked or consistently edited in prior
surveys. Beginning with the 1994 survey, detailed questions on place of
birth and citizenship status were asked as basic items on the survey.
- Estimating turnout rates for the citizen population 18 years and over
significantly increased voter turnout levels for Hispanics (34 percent)
and doubled the rate for the Asian or Pacific Islander population to 39
percent. Overall, computing voter turnout rates for citizens only,
instead of all residents, increased the level of voter turnout for the
Nation as a whole from 45 to 48 percent.
- The large increase in voter turnout previously noted for 18 to 24
year olds between the 1988 and 1992 Presidential elections was not evident
between the 1990 and 1994 Congressional elections as only 1 out of every 5
young people reported voting in both elections.
- There was no overall difference in voter turnout rates between men
and women in the 1994 elections. Likewise, there was no difference in the
turnout rates between men and women in the 45 to 64 year old age group (57
percent). However, women 18 to 44 years old reported slightly higher
turnout rates than did men (36 percent versus 34 percent). But in 1994 as
in previous Congressional elections, men 65 years old and over continued
to report higher rates of voter turnout than women, 67 and 58 percent,
respectively. This difference, however, was less than it was almost 30
years ago when in the 1966 election the gap was 14 percentage points in
favor of men.
- As in most surveys, persons tend to overreport their participation in
the electoral process. Estimates provided by the Election Data Services
indicate that 75 million persons voted in the November 1994 elections.
GENERAL USER NOTES
As in all surveys, the data in this release are subject to
sampling variability and other sources of error, such as survey
design flaws, respondent classification errors, and data
processing mistakes. The Census Bureau has taken steps to
minimize errors, and analytical statements have been tested and
meet statistical standards. However, because of methodological
differences, use caution when comparing these data with data from
other sources.
All demographic surveys suffer from undercoverage of the
population. This undercoverage results from missed housing units
and missed persons within sample households. Compared to the
level of the 1990 Decennial Census, overall CPS undercoverage is
about 8 percent. Undercoverage varies with age, sex, and race.
For some groups such as 20 to 29 year old Black males, the
undercoverage is as high as 34 percent compared to the Census.
The population controls that are used in this survey have been
adjusted for undercount in the decennial census and partially
correct for the bias due to undercoverage. However, the final
impact of the weighting procedures used by the Census Bureau on
the estimates is unknown. The estimates for data beginning in
1994 are based on population controls using results from the 1990
census brought forward to the survey date.
The information on the Hispanic population shown in this report
was collected in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and
does not include residents of Puerto Rico.
More detailed information on the design of this survey and
problems associated with collecting voting statistics can be
found in Current Population Reports, Series P20-466, "Voting and
Registration in the Election of November 1992." Please consult
this previous report for general information on the definitions
and explanations used in this release.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division,
Fertility & Family Statistics Branch
Questions? / 1-866-758-1060
Last Revised: November 02, 2000 at 03:14:38 PM
