Voter turnout drops to 62% in New Mexico
Posted at: 11/08/2012 4:37 PM
By: The Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Voter turnout dropped in New Mexico and unofficial returns indicate about 62 percent of registered voters cast ballots in this year's presidential race.
That's down from nearly 70 percent in 2008, and it's the lowest turnout rate since the 2000 presidential election when 61 percent of eligible voters participated.
About 772,000 votes were cast in the presidential race. That's 7 percent lower than in 2008, but is 2 percent higher than in 2004.
New Mexico was a battleground state in the 2008 and 2004 presidential contests, but not this year.
Albuquerque pollster Brian Sanderoff attributes the drop in voter turnout to less enthusiasm among voters about this year's presidential contest.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez says turnout may have been damped by pre-election polls showing Obama leading in New Mexico.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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