Name: ____________________________
Voter Turnout Rates
2010 Midterm Elections
A Prediction Activity: Write down what percentage of each group you think voted in the 2010 midterm
elections. To help you make better predictions, we have provided the actual percentages for three
groups: a) voters with household income greater than $75,000, b) Hispanic voters, and c) men. When
you’re finished, your teacher will reveal the actual percentages, which you should fill in the last column.
Your Predictions
Total Eligible Voters
By Age
Actual Percentages
%
%
65 and Older
%
%
18-29 Year Olds
%
%
Household Income Above $75,000
60 %
60 %
Household Income Below $50,000
%
%
Whites
%
%
Blacks
%
%
31.2 %
31.2 %
Asians
%
%
Women
%
%
44.8 %
44.8 %
By Income
By Race
Hispanics
By Gender
Men
Sources: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning, Nonprofit VOTE and Pew Research Hispanic Center
Questions:
1. How did your predictions compare to the actual percentages? Did you correctly predict any
trends?
2. What do you notice in the actual voting percentages? What do you find interesting or surprising
in those numbers?
3. What questions do the actual voting percentages raise for you?
4. If the United States wants to increase voter participation rates, what insights might the above
chart provide?
Name: ____________________________
TEACHER COPY
Voter Turnout Rates
2010 Midterm Elections
Actual Percentages
Total Eligible Voters
65 and Older
45.5 %
60.8 %
By Age
18-29 Year Olds
24 %
Household Income Above $75,000
60 %
Household Income Below $50,000
40 %
By Income
Whites
48.6 %
Blacks
44 %
By Race
Hispanics
Asians
31.2 %
31 %
Women
46.2 %
Men
44.8 %
By Gender
Sources: Total Eligible Voters, 45.5%; 65 and Up, 60.8%; 18-29 Year Olds, 24%; Household Incomes Above $75,000, 60%;
Household Incomes Below $50,000, 40%; Whites, 48.6%; Black,44%; Hispanics, 31.2%; Asians, 31%; Women, 46.2%;
Men, 44.8%.