Stats here show real issue in Pa is turnout, not registration

[DebJ]

Only 52.4% of the Voting Age Population (VAP) voted in 2000, although 83% of the VAP were registered to vote. We had the highest ever voter registration, yet one of the lowest ever turnouts of those registered voters at the polls.
Statistics from the last three elections (two primaries, one general) show that Democrats outnumber Republican registrations by about half a million each time.

Years where even LESS of the Voting Age Population voted:
1980 51.9%, Carter won over Ford
1988, 50.1% GHW Bush won
1996, 48.9%, Clinton won

General Elections (Presidential)

.....High Vote..Ttl Reg Vot...RV %....V.A.P....%VAPVoted..%VAPReg...
1960.5,006,541...5,687,837...88.00%..7,122,000...70.30%....79.86%...
1964.4,822,690...5,728,359...84.20%..7,100,000...67.90%....80.68%...
1968.4,747,928...5,599,364...84.80%..7,273,000...65.30%....76.99%...
1972.4,592,105...5,871,902...78.20%..8,207,000...56.00%....71.55%...
1976.4,620,787...5,749,660...80.40%..8,531,000...54.20%....67.40%...
1980.4,561,501...5,754,287...79.30%..8,787,000...51.90%....65.49%...
1984.4,844,903...6,193,702...78.20%..8,975,000...54.00%....69.01%...
1988.4,536,251...5,875,943...77.20%..9,060,000...50.10%....64.86%...
1992.4,959,810...5,993,002...82.80%..9,129,000...54.30%....65.65%...
1996.4,501,307...6,805,612...66.10%..9,196,000...48.90%....74.01%...

2000.4,912,185...7,781,997...63.00%..9,358,833...52.40%....83.00%...

*Includes all citizens of voting age whether they are registered or not

.................Primary 2004*.......November 2000........April 2000
Repub............3,179,303............3,250,764...........3,161,402..
Democrats........3,622,410............3,736,304...........3,633,822..
Green (Cst 2004)....12,227................7,918...............9,322..
Libertarian.........30,544...............30,248..............27,891..
Other..............790,092..............756,763.............695,062..
Total............7,634,577............7,781,997...........7,527,499..


*data for primary 2004 unofficial data

Official 2000 General Election Results
President of the United States

Presidential Candidate Votes 2000
BUSH, GEORGE W. (REP) 2,281,127
GORE, AL (DEM) 2,485,967
PHILLIPS, HOWARD (CST) 14,428
BROWNE, HARRY (LIB) 11,248
NADER, RALPH (GRN) 103,392
BUCHANAN, PATRICK J. (REF) 16,023


on edit, figures are from here:
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/cwp/view.asp?a=1099&q=431553
edited again for visibility

[Infomaniac]

1. I have family in PA

I have family in PA. They are Culturely Catholics or Recovering Catholics, whichever you prefer. The general consensus is they'll vote for Kerry over Bush. A lot of them didn't bother to vote in 2000. They won't miss this one though. They won't vote for Bush because of his pro-poverty, pro-hunger, pro-homeless policies. TKH has a good reputation for her charitable works in PA.

[IrishDemocrat]

2. Southeastern PA

Is sunk for Bush. I hope we can get 2000 turnout if not greater. I didn't vote in 2000, now I'm a Young Dem!

[Eurobabe]

3. welcome to DU!!

I have two young lovelies in Chester Co. who are first time voters and they are solid Kerry. :)