It's Official: Schwarzenegger elected by less than 20% of elgible voters

Nov 14, 2003 | Kevin Shelley

[Amerigomag]

As many had predicted, the new governor elect was swept into office by less than 20% of the elgible voters.

The combination of typical, lackluster, off-year election participation that attracted only 43.1% of the elgible voters and a small army of candidates allows the new governor elect to enter office with considerably less than a mandate of the majority.

[Semper Paratus]

Wasn't that the same margin of voter who voted for Clinton?

[Eala]

20% in a race on a hundred-plus candidates is not bad. One wonders about the results if it had been a race between 2, or 5?

[Eala]

Question: Is this a final poison pill by outgoing governor Gray Davis?

[Sabertooth]

He got a higher percentage, and a higher vote total, than Gray Davis did in 2002.

And 2003.

Arnold also got a higher percentage of the ballots cast than Bill Clinton did in 1992.

[TAP ONLINE]

Is an elgible voter a registered voter?

[Enterprise]

Can you provide the numbers?

[ambrose]

Is an elgible voter a registered voter?

No. About 60% + of the registered voters voted this past election, which was the highest non-presidential election turnout in CA since 1982.

And conversely, a registered voters isn't necessarily an "eligible" voter considering all the illegal aliens, dogs, dead people, etc., that the Rats register and vote every election cycle.

[Coeur de Lion]

Absolutely! Shelley's being disingenuous here; even though he's stated no falsehoods. This 20% his based on whether 100% of eligible voters had voted. Twenty percent of 100% of eligible voters is pretty darn good given typical voter turnout rarely exceeds 50%.

[Political Junkie Too]

Eligible voters?

That is just citizens of voting age. How about registered voters?

-PJ

[Prime Choice]

Is an elgible voter a registered voter?

No. Just someone who's a legal citizen, resident of California and over 18 years of age prior to the election. That's what an eligible voter is. Nothing more.

[Agog]

Is this the Cal Sec of State's statement or just your commentary on the posted stats? The link only points to the final results. Am I failing to see something there?

[jackbill]

What in the hell is an "elgible" voter? Is that a California thingy?

[Prime Choice]

Is this the Cal Sec of State's statement or just your commentary on the posted stats?

It's a long- and well-known fact that a distinct minority of those who are eligible to vote ever even bother to vote.

All the article stated was that Arnold got the support 20% of all eligible voters.

In short, it's just another left-leaning piece of trash that seeks to minimize the mandate of the California Recall.

[deport]

Eligible Voters     21,833,141
Number Registered   15,380,536
Percent Registration 70.45%
Schwarzenegger      4,203,596  

4,203,596 / 21,833,141 = 0.1925

Yep less than 20% of the elgible voters....   so what else is new?

[pfflier]

enter office with considerably less than a mandate of the majority.

Democracy belongs to those who care to vote. Of those who cared, it was a clear mandate and a devastating loss for the demoncrats, no matter how this spin is depicted.

[Cultural Jihad]

Needless to say, the Democrats never tout the percent of "eligible voters" when one of their own gets elected.

[billhilly]

Forgive me, but in this age of defining what is, is, just what is 20% of elgible voters?

[dighton]

Question: Is this a final poison pill by outgoing governor Gray Davis?

No. The comments are Amerigomag's, who seems not to have accepted that McClintock LOST.