Data from ICPSR Study No. 1248 can be downloaded from
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/. They include voter turnout statistics by state
for 1980-2000. There are two alternative variables to use as the denominator:
voting-age population (VAP) and voting-eligible population (VEP). VAP is the
one usually used becuase it is much easier to get. You can probably find it
back to the 1930s from other sources. VEP is a more accurate measure, however.
It is VAP adjusted for noncitizens and those who are ineligible due to a felony
conviction. VEP/VAP actually varies quite a lot across states. For the
related article, see Michael McDonald, "The Turnout Rate Among Eligible Voters
in teh States, 1980-2000." State Politics and Policy Quarterly 2(Summer): 199-
212, 2002.
Bob Lowry
Quoting wei ha <wei_ha(a)ksgphd.harvard.edu>du>:
Dear Gary and all,
I wonder if any of you know a dataset on voter turnout by state by year in
the US, ideally it would go back to 1930s. Thanks a lot!
Wei
Sincerely,
Wei Ha
PhD Candidate in Public Policy
Harvard University
Fax: 1-801-605-1455
Bob Lowry
Visiting Scholar
Center for Basic Research in the Social Sciences
Harvard University
34 Kirkland Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
ph. 617-384-9311
fax. 617-496-5149