Dem turnout down 30% from supertuesday 2008

[Matty]

Thought bernie was going to unite the 50% or so of americans who don't vote and lead a revolution?

[Virginiá]

I guess not.

As for Republicans, I wouldn't get my hopes up - higher primary turnout for a specific party is not really illustrative at all of their success in a general election.

[jaichind]

I guess not.

As for Republicans, I wouldn't get my hopes up - higher primary turnout for a specific party is not really illustrative at all of their success in a general election.

What about 2008 Dems ?

[Virginiá]

I guess not.

As for Republicans, I wouldn't get my hopes up - higher primary turnout for a specific party is not really illustrative at all of their success in a general election.

What about 2008 Dems ?

What about them?

Higher turnout doesn't necessarily indicate that the benefiting party will experience such a surge that it could carry them to a win. Republican's 2012 primary turnout was a record setter and yet they still lost by almost 5 million votes. You can argue that incumbent's fair better but in an economy that bad and a sour public mood, an incumbent who took office at the start of said recession should have lost. So whatever higher primary turnout means, it obviously isn't a whole lot.

It's just not that simple.

[SillyAmerican]

Honestly, this is just one more indication that voters are not particularly happy with the status quo. The writing is on the wall; folks can say this doesn't mean all that much, and as an isolated indicator they may be right, but if you look at this as a piece of the puzzle, it may be time to start being concerned...

[SingingAnalyst]

Doesn't the party out of power usually get a bigger primary turnout? That would explain the Dems high 2008 turnout and the GOP's high turnout in 2012 (and 2016).

[jaichind]

Doesn't the party out of power usually get a bigger primary turnout? That would explain the Dems high 2008 turnout and the GOP's high turnout in 2012 (and 2016).

The GOP turnout in 2012 was not particularly high.  In fact the total number of people who voted in GOP primaries/caucuses was down 10% from 2008 to 2012 despite the natural increase voting age population.  And until April 2012 GOP nomination fight was fairly competitive.

[Brittain33]

Turnout in my Dem-heavy city was about 2/3 of general election turnout in 2012. Not bad.

[Ebsy]

I'd be more interested in seeing the turnout compared to 2004 and 2000, not to 2008 which was a record year that was not likely to be replicated.

[jaichind]

I'd be more interested in seeing the turnout compared to 2004 and 2000, not to 2008 which was a record year that was not likely to be replicated.

Main problem with that is that 2000 and 2004 were not that competitive,. 

[pho]

At my precinct in Tarrant County, after waiting in line for 35 minutes to vote. I counted 6 people voting in the Dem primary. 3 were leaving as I entered, another showed up as I was walking toward the machines.

[Panhandle Progressive]

Why Democrats (probably) shouldn't worry about record Republican primary turnout:

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/24/11109764/republican-turnout-democrats-2016

[Mr. Reactionary]

At my precinct in Tarrant County, after waiting in line for 35 minutes to vote. I counted 6 people voting in the Dem primary. 3 were leaving as I entered, another showed up as I was walking toward the machines.

Were there segregated machines for each party?

[Mr. Morden]

Dems should be worried about the primary turnout gap with the GOP.  We might see a repeat of 1988 (in reverse) when record-breaking turnout in the Democratic primaries led to the election of President Dukakis:

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Dems should be worried about the primary turnout gap with the GOP.  We might see a repeat of 1988 (in reverse) when record-breaking turnout in the Democratic primaries led to the election of President Dukakis:

Agreed, we can't afford to have DukakisCare repealed.

[°Leprechaun]

A lot of those who voted in Republican primaries and caucuses are independents. Many of them will vote for a Democrat in the general election. The Republican race offers more choices than the Democratic race so it makes sense to me that a lot of Independents are voting on the Republican side. I don't know the numbers, however. So if anyone knows more than I do, you can give the numbers.

[IceSpear]

More choices + more competitive = higher turnout. This isn't hard to grasp.

[DrScholl]

It's been mentioned before, but Bush was in the White House in 2008 and the animosity helped with Democratic enthusiasm. Republicans really don't like Obama and have a few choices to choose from, which equals better turnout.