Windle+and+Ferrera+Graphs

1. In 1972, 69% of women and 72% of men voted. In 2000, 71% of women and 69% of men voted. Over this period of time, women slowly increased in turnout, while men, more quickly, decreased, and women passed men.

2. The turnouts among Latinos and Blacks don't follow a simple trend. Gradually, they have both, on average, increased in turnout. Both started out below 35%. By 2000, Blacks had passed 40%; Latinos still had not passed 30%. Latinos have over this entire time period had lower turnout than blacks. Also, blacks have increased in turnout much faster than Latinos, who have increased very slowly.

3. In 1972, 12,214,601 votes were cast by 18 to 24-year-olds, and 73,551,288 by people 25 and older. In 2004, the corresponding figures were 11,638,982 and 114,096,944.

4. In 1972, of 18 to 24-year-olds, those in college had 69.6% turnout and those not in college had 37.1% turnout. In 2004, it was 59% to 37.1%. Those in college have had significantly higher turnout over that interval, but the gap is decreasing. Turnout for those not in college has decreased more slowly than that of those in college.

5. This graph does not display a clear trendline. The turnout of both groups has fluctuated a bit. Married 18 to 24-year-old females have always had lower turnout than single ones. In 1972 the married ones had 45.8% turnout while singles had 60.2%. The gap seems to be decreasing, but it is difficult to predict where the numbers will go next.