Decembe 9, 2008 - Election Day turnout was 28-year high // INLAND VOTERS : In both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, 3 of every 4 voters registered cast a ballot

Paper: Press-Enterprise, The ( Riverside, CA)
Title: Election Day turnout was 28-year high // INLAND VOTERS : In both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, 3 of every 4 voters registered cast a ballot.
Date: December 9, 2008
Author: JIM MILLER, SACRAMENTO BUREAU

Inland turnout in last month's presidential election was the highest in more than a quarter-century.

Recently certified vote statements show that 78.3 percent of registered voters in Riverside County cast ballots Nov. 4.

In San Bernardino County, 74.28 percent of registered voters participated.

In each county, more than 600,000 people voted, a record amount. In addition, record numbers of voters cast ballots by mail.

The secretary of state's office will release an official statewide turnout later this week. As of Nov. 26, statewide turnout stood at 77.5 percent.

Riverside County Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore and San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Kari Verjill credited high interest in the presidential contest in which neither candidate was an incumbent or vice president.

The Inland area for years has trailed the rest of the state in voter registration and participation rates.

Out of the almost 2.5 million people considered eligible to vote in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, more than 800,000 have never registered. More than 300,000 cannot vote because they're in prison or they're not citizens.

In 27 statewide elections before Nov. 4, statewide turnout exceeded Riverside County's turnout all but five times. San Bernardino County turnout has never exceeded the state rate during that time.

Dunmore said she hopes the numbers hold next year, when both counties have municipal elections.

A statewide special election to deal with the state's budget problems also is a possibility next year.

"Turnout is always higher in presidential elections," Dunmore said. "We certainly hope that it will encourage voters to return to their polling places and exercise their right to vote."

Reach Jim Miller at 916-445-9973 or jmiller@PE.com

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INLAND VOTER TURNOUT

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Total population: 2.09 million

Eligible to vote: 1.28 million

Registered to vote: 838,716

Average turnout in presidential elections 1988-2004:

69.90 percent

Nov. 4 turnout: 78.33 percent (657,005 ballots cast)

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SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Total population: 2.06 million

Eligible to vote: 1.20 million

Registered to vote: 829,756

Average turnout in presidential elections 1988-2004: 67.52 percent

Nov. 4 turnout: 74.28 percent (616,320 ballots cast)

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PRESIDENTIAL PARTICIPATION: Inland participation in last month's presidential election was the highest since 1980.

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Caption: CHART
BECKY HAGEMAN/THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

Edition: ALL ZONES
Section: LOCAL PLUS
Page: D01
Record Number: 850204
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