Election turnout highest since 2008

Published 11:59 pm Monday, November 28, 2016

According to the final uncertified results from the Alaska Division of Elections, almost 61 percent of Alaska’s registered voters participated in this year’s presidential election.

The final unofficial figures, posted on the 15th day after the election, indicate a turnout of 60.71 percent.

Division officials will audit and analyze the election this week and are expected certify the results as official early this week.

This year’s turnout is No. 8 in the 11 presidential elections held since 1976, when the state’s modern recordkeeping system began.

It’s also about 5 percentage points below normal for a presidential election year in Alaska. Since 1976, the state has averaged 65.4 percent turnout in presidential election years.

If midterm election years are included, the average turnout dips to 59.1 percent for the 21 elections held since 1976.

Alaska presidential election turnout:

• 1976: 61.7 percent

• 1980: 62.9

• 1984: 69.8

• 1988: 69.6

• 1992: 83.0

• 1996: 59.1

• 2000: 60.8

• 2004: 66.6

• 2008: 66.03

• 2012: 59.57

• 2016: 60.71