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In the
November 1996 and 2000 Presidential elections,
voter turnout in Santa Monica was about 70%,
higher than that in the State and the Country;
In 2004, Santa Monica participation was about
the same as those jurisdictions. |
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In the
off-year 2006 election, both LA County and
California participation rates were above 50%,
compared to the 43% cited above for Santa
Monica. It is possible that statewide
participation was higher due to a variety of
important ballot initiatives which may have
interested voters. In Santa Monica, the voters
may have turned out to weigh in on the Clean
Beach parcel tax, which narrowly won the
supermajority necessary, at 67% of votes cast
for that measure.
In order to
better understand this percentage, the indicator
looks at Santa Monica voter participation rates
in relationship to the rate of participation
regionally and nationally. Typically, voter
turnout is higher in general election years.
Voter turnout is at its highest in the years
that correspond to a Presidential election. This
trend is consistent with the voter turnout
results in Santa Monica. Santa Monicans
generally turn out in greater numbers than
voters in LA County, California and the United
States as a whole. However, in 2004 General
election, SM voters outperformed only the US as
a whole, with a 63% participation rate. In that
election, an amazing 79% of LA County voters
turned out, 76% of California voters turned out,
and 61% of US voters turned out. As mentioned
above, 63% Santa Monica voters turned out in
that election. |
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