Vote-by-mail advocates have long argued that the system increases voter participation, particularly in traditionally low-turnout off-year elections, and this recent general election certainly doesn’t provide any evidence to the contrary. Indeed, when compared to other cities, Seattle’s off-year turnout is simply off the charts.
HA comment thread regular N in Seattle, who also writes at Daily Kos and his own Peace Tree Farm, has painstakingly constructed a spreadsheet looking at the 43 U.S. cities with populations greater than 100,000 that held mayoral contests in November, 2009, and ranked by turnout, Washington state’s Seattle, Everett, Vancouver and Tacoma not only occupy the top four spots, but once you get past fifth place Stamford, CT’s 41.9%, the rest of the nation doesn’t even come close.
City |
Pop. |
Reg. Voters |
Turnout |
| Seattle, WA | 598,541 | 375,164 | 57.6% |
| Everett, WA | 103,500 | 45,506 | 44.9% |
| Vancouver, WA | 163,186 | 74,720 | 44.9% |
| Tacoma, WA | 197,181 | 95,255 | 43.0% |
| Stamford, CT | 119,303 | 57,304 | 41.9% |
| Toledo, OH | 293,201 | 203,630 | 33.9% |
| Manchester, NH | 108,586 | 58,212 | 32.3% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 333,336 | 225,680 | 31.3% |
| Boston, MA | 609,023 | 356,453 | 31.2% |
The table above displays the top ten cities by mayoral race turnout in November, 2009; you can view the complete table here.
As can be seen, Seattle’s 57.6% voter turnout is simply off the charts, while even Tacoma, Washington’s poorest performing major city (and the only one without all mail-in elections) ranks far above all but Stamford. The average turnout across the 43 cities was only 23.8%, while the lowest was recorded in Durham, NC, where only 8.1% of registered voters cast ballots in a mayoral race that tossed out an incumbent.
To put this in perspective, Seattle’s population of just under 600,000 ranks 25th in the nation, yet only one city cast more ballots for mayor this November: New York, with a population of over 8.3 million. Houston TX, by comparison, with a population of over 2.3 million and a 19.1% turnout, cast only 179,000 ballots… about 37,000 less than much smaller Seattle. The level of voter participation isn’t even close.
And one can’t simply write off Seattle’s 2009 turnout as an anomaly due to contentious mayoral, county executive and ballot measure contests. In 2005, when Mayor Nickels was barely challenged by Al Runte, Seattle voters turned out at a similarly impressive 55.47% rate. And at 47.46%, even Seattle’s off-off-year 2007 turnout, with no mayoral or executive race on the ballot, would have topped the 2009 list.
In fact, at 38.6%, Seattle turned out a higher percentage of registered voters in this year’s August primary than all but one non-Washington city on the list could muster in the November general. That’s pretty damn impressive.
What explains the relatively high voter turnout in Washington state, and Seattle in particular? It would be a reach, given the data presented, to give all the credit to our vote-by-mail system, but it would be silly to ignore it as a major factor. Since 2001, as the percentage of Seattle voters casting ballots by mail has gone up, so has the turnout in comparable off-year elections. Vote-by-mail advocates promised higher turnout, and so far, that’s what we have seen.
But the turnout disparity is simply too great to attribute to vote-by-mail alone, as clearly there is something different about the political culture here that prompts greater voter participation, particularly in off-year elections. Perhaps the steady stream of ballot measures, as much as I hate them, keeps voters more engaged? And despite the lamentations of editorialists, perhaps too the interjection of partisan politics into allegedly nonpartisan races helps generate a greater level of voter interest? Or perhaps the near absence of public corruption in recent decades has failed to encourage the same level of cynicism and apathy that plagues other big cities?
Regardless, we’re clearly doing something right here compared to the rest of the nation, and that’s something of which all Washingtonians can be proud… at least, those of us who truly believe in democracy.
I would argue that the high degree of education within the city limits could be a factor. I’ve forgetten the numbers, but don’t a majority of Seattle residents hold college degrees? Some college towns might have higher percentages (Cambridge, etc.), but a lot of them actually have a pretty small population in terms of permanant (i.e., non-student) residents.
Also, vote-by-mail has solved the transportation problem involved in commuting in this area. Residents who live in Seattle but work in outlying suburban centers (Microsoft), or vice-versa, can now vote without having to decide whether to come in late or leave work early.
How does King County as a whole match up against Seattle’s numbers?
Lots of people live outside Seattle city limits but work there, and have much of their social/recreation life tied to the city.
Seattle is a hovel for activist Progressives to try to out-enlighten each other.
Failing to vote is an automatic 5 Demerets on the Progressive scorecard.
Yup they vote…and look what they have to show for it?
$2.6 Billion Mystical Shortfall 1 year after election.
A reasonable person would suspect the hole is even deeper….or perhaps shallower so Gregoire can play Budget games to look like she is doing something.
Time will tell.
Three thoughts:
1. The data should also include cities like Bellevue, with a Council-Manager form of government, where voters only elect council members, as opposed to an executive mayor. Especially if those cities have at-large elections.
2. There are probably some cities that elect a Mayor in 2007 and 2011, but still had council races in 2009. Those should be included, if the council members are elected at-large.
3. Washington always seems to have interesting initiative and referenda on the ballot, which boost turnout far beyond what other states might have in these off-year elections. We also have county-wide offices on odd-year ballots (at least in King County). Many of the cities in other states only had the city election on the ballot.
Mr. Cynical. @ 3
“Seattle is a hovel for activist Progressives to try to out-enlighten each other. Failing to vote is an automatic 5 Demerets on the Progressive scorecard.”
So, what happens in WingnutburgerLand? Five demerits for participating in the “socialist voting system”? (“Get government out of elections!” I can hear one of your fellow Nutters cry.)
“and look what they have to show for it? $2.6 Billion Mystical Shortfall 1 year after election.”
Wait…what???
First, there is no budget shortfall. There is a projected shortfall that, by law, will be fixed.
Second, last year, the Pew Center on the States Government Performance Project ranked Washington State in the top three states for management of money. Washington, Utah, and Virginia each got an A- (which was the top score). (WA got an A- on money in the previous report in 2005, too).
Third, almost EVERY state has projected shortfalls and a fiscal crisis right now. This is what eight years of fiscal recklessness under George W. Bush brought us–the worst recession in recent history.
By the way, I’m still wondering whether you believe ACORN stole the 2008 election for Barack Obama.
Or did Obama win because liberals stole the election by, you know…casting more votes than you wingnutburgers?
(Psssst. Cynical, the demerit system isn’t really working out for you guys….)
Pssst, Darryl! It’s a fool’s errand to try and talk rationally to the wingnutz. Just keep your eyes fixed straight ahead and ignore them.
It’s no accident that Republicans are against vote-by-mail even though it increases turnout. In fact, they’re against it because it increases turnout! The last thing they want is to encourage the hoi polloi to vote. They know their own loyalists will vote, and that as a permanent minority whose entire political agenda is geared toward exploiting the majority for their own selfish gain, their chances of winning are directly correlated to low turnout among ordinary voters. Hence, they strive to put as many obstacles between you and voting as possible. They want to make voting so difficult and inconvenient that you won’t bother. It’s the only way they can win, and they know it.
Darryl spews
Yes there is a shortfall Darryl…BECAUSE IT IS PROJECTED AND HASN’T BEEN FIXED YET!!!!
Sheeesh. Once it’s fixed, it’s not a shortfall.
Comprende Amigo?
psssst…have you looked at the polls recently?
And I asked you numerous times what Obama has done to hurt the rich like you KLOWNS told us would happen??
PS–
No, I don’t think ACORN stole the Presidential Election. But they are mighty corrupt.
Where is Eric Holder on ACORN these days?
Too Busy orchestrating another sideshow with terrorist trials in NY I guess.
Cynical @3,
So… um… a high level of voter participation is a bad thing? How typically Republican.
@3 If Seattle is a “hovel” what is your goat shed?
Click here for photo of Montana housing development: http://tinyurl.com/yg4h9m7
@3 Of course, it has never occurred to you there wouldn’t be any progressive activists if the capitalist class weren’t total jerks.
Let me get this straight; Voting is a civic duty. One that upstanding American Patriots participate in.
The sacred right that’s fundamental to democracy that so many brave American men and women have fought, bled, and died for? That sacred right?
Seattle’s blue, blue LIBERALS turn out nearly 60% of our population and Houston’s red, red CONSERVATIVES turn out only 19%??????????
A 3:1 ratio!
WOW! That’s total disrespect to the men and women who gave their lives for FREEDOM.
Talk about conservatives just pissing on the graves of American soldiers and shitting on the families whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice.
And, for what?? So conservatives can run around having Tea Bag parties in Texas and talk about seceding from America!!
I guess it’s their right to disrespect our soldiers, I just wish they wouldn’t do it.
Why do angry conservatives hate our soldiers? why do they talk ill of the Mother’s who’s children have died defending America, defending OUR freedom?
Why do they hate America?
Why do they act like al Qeada.
The answer: They are the enemy within our borders; bin Laden’s useful idiots.
Forgive them brave fallen soldiers, for conservatives know not what they do.
They listen to propaganda like Fox News and spew vile hate towards those they do not agree with. They have contempt for honesty, civil debate, and what’s best for America as a nation. Unlike you, brave fallen soldiers, their motives are self-centered and not for the greater good.
@5 Maybe Klown can explain why Alaska, the wingnut paradise of no taxes where money gushes out of the ground, has a budget shortfall …
@8 “No, I don’t think ACORN stole the Presidential Election. But they are mighty corrupt.”
No more so than any other organization of their size, and a good deal less so than many large corporations.
What would wingnutz do without their whipping boys? They NEED Acorn, Bill Ayers, and the “liberal biased” media. They’ve got nothing else.
Mr. Cynical @ 8,
“Yes there is a shortfall Darryl…BECAUSE IT IS PROJECTED AND HASN’T BEEN FIXED YET!!!!”
Gee…I don’t want to give you a stroke or anything, Mr. Cynical, but when you say “IT IS PROJECTED AND HASN’T BEEN FIXED YET!”, that would be a “Projected Shortfall.”
psssst…have you looked at the polls recently?”
I have…you wingdings are still getting your asses kicked.
“No, I don’t think ACORN stole the Presidential Election.”
Good for you, Mr. Cynical. You may be a minority in your own party, but at least you aren’t a Nutter.
“Where is Eric Holder on ACORN these days?”
He doesn’t believe ACORN stole the election, either.
So here we are in the worst depression since the 1930s and their only ideas are eliminating public services and giving more tax cuts to the rich. Why would anyone vote for these idiots?
“the high degree of education within the city limits could be a factor”
Yeah, Seattle is sooooooo much better than anybody else in the state. They even think their farts smell good.
Get over yourselves!
@ 14:
That’s because Govenor Quitter left the place a shit hole.
THANK GOD, Liberals turned out to vote and defeated John McSHAME and his VP, Sarah “The Quit-tinator” Failin’.
Oh, yeah, that’s another place that wants to shit on American soliders and secede from the Union.
You know, like the “First Dude” who belongs to radical Alaska Independence Party. The same right wing, radical extremist group that Sarah Falin’ attended meetings with her husband,
TurdI mean Todd.Politically Incorrect,
“Yeah, Seattle is sooooooo much better than anybody else in the state. They even think their farts smell good.”
Man…you have one wicked case of Inferiority Complex.
(P.S. I don’t live in Seattle…just callin’ it like I see it.)
Politically Incorrect @ 18:
Read this dip shit.
Seattle ranks as nation’s best-educated big city
“It’s the best-educated big city in America, according to Census Bureau estimates: 51.3 percent of all Seattle adults 25 and older hold bachelor’s degrees or better.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....es11m.html
As a conservative you’re such a
smart fellerI mean Fart Smeller.NOW, smell my Taco Bell FART dumb ass..
What? Do you think Stub Toe, AK has a better educated population?
Grow up. Better yet, get your GED.
Please excuse PI, he’s from Buckley and is married to his first cousin.
Seattle folks just vote more? Nah….it must be a secret ACORN plot by the underground Muslim cabal seeking to overthrow “Real America”(tm)!
LOL
Back in the 1980s, the King County GOP started getting all their guys signed up for mail-in (then called absentee) ballots. They were trying to improve the turnout from their base. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s perfectly fair.
Eventually (it took a while) the Democrats caught on and started signing up THEIR guys for mail-in ballots. Ever since then, the GOP has been against mail-in ballots. At least for us. Maybe they still think it’s OK for them.
Like Bill Clinton said: When America votes, Democrats win.
Richard Pope @4:
Originally, I did have Bellevue (52.6% turnout, which would have ranked second behind Seattle) in the spreadsheet. But I decided to include only those cities that directly elected mayors. Gotta set criteria somewhere, and I chose that one, along with the 100K minimum population and a November election date. Many cities, e.g. Los Angeles and other California cities, elected mayors earlier in the year, but I excluded all of those.
Again, I chose to examine only directly-elected mayors. Feel free to do your own analysis of additional cities, using whatever criteria you desire.
I promise not to criticize you for failing to include some other subset of all possible elections.
Yes, absolutely correct. Highly controversial referenda and initiatives certainly contribute to Washington’s high turnout.
Supporting that thesis is another state with a history of high levels of voter turnout — Maine. As you know, they too had a GLBT civil rights referendum on their ballot. In contrast to Washington, Maine’s 2009 general election was almost entirely voting on a number of statewide referenda and bond issues. Also in contrast to Washington, Maine votes at the polls on Election Day.
Not in contrast to Washington, Maine’s turnout this November was a remarkable 58.5% (for some reason, the Bangor Daily News calls 567593/969912 “60%”).
Oh, THANK GOD! They told ME she was his sister… and I had some trouble believing that.
So it really IS a guy in drag and it’s his COUSIN? That’s ok, then. Just taking after Cynical the Christian Witness.
@26 I usually leave PI be. He’s not so bad a fellow. Not at all like Klynical and the third-person faux ebonics spewing creepazoid.
…or the
‘s cum-dumpster.
@12 “So conservatives can run around having Tea Bag parties in Texas and talk about seceding from America!!”
Who cares what they talk about — if they don’t vote, they have no say in running the country, and that’s fine with me.
@20 “Man…you have one wicked case of Inferiority Complex.”
Those losers should have an inferiority complex!! They’re so fucking inferior there’s something wrong if they don’t!
High numbers come from Dem party capturing the dead voter bloc. That adds 10% to the totals and ensures victory
@31
Actually, we lose voters when Republicans challenge valid addresses. There were a bunch of those in 2004. Some got got, but how many challenges that should have been contested didn’t get contested?
@31 Wrongon – the chronic loser joins the teabagger cult – hell, probably a charter member!
300,000 phony ballots in King county just in case! Mathematically, King county never makes sense. GBS and his two “luxry porches” and doesn’t pay a dime in federal taxes is another example!
By number, UW students are 6% of the population of Seattle. An additional 2% is faculty and staff. Add in students, faculty, and staff, from all of the city’s institutes of higher education. I suspect a majority of the unusual turnout is due to them.
Seattle–world’s largest college town.
Yeah, actually, I agree. I even agree with some of his rants. I just was in an opportunistic mode yesterday.
Now Cynical is absolutely revolting and pustulent. We need to spray disinfectant in here when he visits. In case I haven’t mentioned it, I am not fond of him.
I thought “ebonics” was a systematic study of Scrooge.
“The Raven” @35:
Is this snark?
In case it isn’t, I might point out that:
a) Many (most?) college students vote from their home addresses.
b) In the 2008 election, the precincts just across 45th Street from the University of Washington had by far the lowest turnout in the 43rd LD. Overall, the 43rd had 85.9% turnout, but the four precincts directly north of the U turned out between 47.5% and 57.1%. None of the other 203 precincts in the 43rd were under 63.6%, and only six others were below 75%.
While your percentage turnout appears correct for Durham, NC, the incumbant mayor was not thrown out. He was reelected by large percentage.