Recession anger spurs more voters to polls

NORWALK, Calif. (KABC) -- Spurred by recession frustrations, several states saw higher voter turnout than in midterm elections four years ago.

Nationwide, a projected 42 percent of registered voters cast ballots. That translates to about 90 million people, which is 6.2 million more than in 2006.

Election data indicate that voter turnout was up in at least nine states, including boosts in Florida, Minnesota and Texas, with more than 95 percent of precincts reporting.

However, some states saw lower turnout numbers, including Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In Los Angeles County, preliminary numbers show that 49 percent of registered voters cast ballots, which is about the same as in years past. In Orange County, 24.05 percent of registered voters cast their ballots.

Election officials noted a trend, saying that more people opted to vote by mail.

A record number of vote-by-mail ballots were issued in this election. According to L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan, over 1.1 million vote-by-mail ballots were issued. Statewide, more than 7.5 million absentee ballots were requested this year.

In the last gubernatorial election the Los Angeles County voter turnout was 52 percent

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