A new report from American University\u2019s Center for the Study of the American Electorate concludes that voter turnout in Tuesday\u2019s election was the same in percentage terms as it was four years ago \u201d\u201d or at most has risen by less than 1 percent.<\/p>\n
The report released Thursday estimates that between 126.5 and 128.5 million Americans cast ballots in the presidential election earlier this week. Those figures represent 60.7 percent or, at most, 61.7 percent of those eligible to vote in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cA downturn in the number and percentage of Republican voters going to the polls seemed to be the primary explanation for the lower than predicted turnout,\u201d\u009d the report said. Compared to 2004, Republican turnout declined by 1.3 percentage points to 28.7 percent, while Democratic turnout increased by 2.6 points from 28.7 percent in 2004 to 31.3 percent in 2008.<\/p>\n