Census shows 5 percentage point increase in Maryland voters in 2004 election

Maryland voters came out to the polls last year in greater numbers than they did during the 2000 election, according to new figures released today from the U.S. census.

Nearly 66 percent of U.S. citizens in Maryland voted in the 2004 presidential election, an increase from 61 percent in 2000, the study revealed. The increase in voter turnout was similar to national figures, which showed an increase from 60 percent in 2000 to 64 percent in 2004.

Statewide, 56 percent of blacks voted, which matched national figures. Whites in Maryland turned out at 63 percent, slightly less than the figure of 67 percent nationwide. Figures for Hispanics and Asians had margins of error of more than 10 percentage points.

The data provide detailed turnout rates for characteristics such as age, educational attainment and veteran status and were gleaned from the Census 2004 Current Population Survey.