Survey: Record number of Californians, young and nonwhite residents voted in 2004

By: Associated Press - | Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:22 AM PST ∞

SAN FRANCISCO -- A record number of Californians voted in the 2004 general election, including more of the state's young people and nonwhite residents than ever before, a Field Poll analysis of the election results found.

More than 12.5 million Californians participated in the election, or 75 percent of the state's registered voters. That's a steep increase from 2000, when about 11.1 million voters went to the polls. Of this year's voters, a record 4.1 million, or 33 percent, voted by absentee ballot, up from 2.7 million in 2000.

Democrat John Kerry defeated President Bush by about 10 percentage points, or 1.2 million votes, the fourth consecutive time a Democrat has prevailed at the presidential level in the state. But Kerry's margin of victory was 2 points less than Democrat Al Gore's margin over Bush in 2000.

The survey found that nonwhite voters continue to represent a growing share of the state's electorate. One-third of voters in the 2004 election were Hispanic, Asian-American or black, up from 29 percent in 2000. And half of those who voted in 2004 were younger than 45, a steep increase from 2000 when just 36 percent were between the ages of 18 and 44.

Nearly three-quarters of the state's voters live on the Pacific coast, and coastal voters favored Kerry in much higher numbers than those who live inland. Kerry prevailed over Bush by a 19-point margin in the coastal areas, while inland voters preferred Bush by 15 points -- up from 8 points in 2000.

Besides sweeping the state's most liberal areas -- Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay area -- Boxer picked up half or more of the votes in San Diego County, the Central Coast and several less populated areas that Bush won handily. Jones prevailed in the traditionally Republican Central Valley, Orange County and Inland Empire regions, but by much lower margins than Bush received.

The survey found Democrats outnumbered Republican voters, 43 percent to 36 percent, while 21 percent identified themselves as independents or decline-to-state. Of those, 57 percent favored Kerry while 38 percent voted for Bush.

The analysis was based on the Secretary of State's official Statement of Vote, as well as past election results and exit polls.

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