8.8 Million More Women Than Men Voted in 2004 Elections

Women turned out to vote in the 2004 elections at a notably higher rate than men, according to official figures released in early June by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The rate of voter turnout was 60.1 % for women, compared with 56.3% for men.

The 2004 turnout gap between women and men was greater than in any previous election. Women have voted at higher rates than men in every presidential election since 1980, with the gap between women and men growing slightly larger with each successive election.

In terms of numbers, 67.3 million women reported voting in 2004, compared with 58.5 million men, for a difference of 8.8 million. This figure is up from 2000, when 7.8 million more women than men voted.

Women outvoted men (in terms of both turnout rates and actual numbers) in every racial and ethnic group–African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and white. For Asian/Pacific Islanders (but not for other groups), 2004 was the first election where women voted at a higher rate than men.

For details, read the updated Gender Differences in Voter Turnout fact sheet here.