North Carolina Republicans Outvoted Dems During 2010 Elections: White Voters

N.C. State Republicans Outvoted Democrats

Registered N.C. Republicans voted at higher rates than Democrats in dozens of counties this year, according to an analysis by Democracy North Carolina.

The turnout rate for registered Republicans was 50 percent statewide, the elections watchdog group reported, while the rate for Democrats was 44 percent. Thirty-three percent of unaffiliated voters cast ballots. Turnout overall was 44 percent.

"We're highlighting the differences to help understand what happened in 2010, but the numbers show that nobody can be proud of the voter participation rate for their party or sub-group," Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina executive director said in a statement.

In 2006 and 2008, registered Democrats and Republicans voted at about the same rates.

This year, Republicans ages 66 and older outvoted their Democratic counterparts. And older voters cast ballots at a much higher rate than voters 18 to 25 years old - 60 percent vs. 18 percent.

Compared to the last mid-term election in 2006, black voter participation increased more than for whites. Black voter turnout increased from 29 percent to 40 percent, while turnout among white voters increased from 39 percent to 46 percent.



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WRAL, Google Maps