INDIANAPOLIS — Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced 58 percent of the state’s 4.8 million registered voters cast a vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Kosciusko County continued its tradition, with the exception of one year, of being at or above the state turnout percentage. The county had a 61 percent voter turnout this year.

While Decatur, LaGrange and Whitley counties had the highest turnout in the state, all reaching 71 percent, and Vermillion and Wells counties reached 70 percent,

A report was compiled by the secretary of state’s office using voter data gathered in Indiana’s 92 counties.

“Early voting reached a record high of 33 percent this year,” said Lawson. “Hoosiers continue to take advantage of the options counties and the state have provided to make voting easier.” In 2008, early voting was at 24 percent and in 2012 it was at 22 percent.

Kosciusko Statistics

The secretary of state’s statistics show Kosciusko county has 54,154 registered voters with 32,980 or 61 percent casting votes. There were 26,778 voting in person and 6,202 casting absentee ballots. The county’s percentage of absentee votes was 19 percent.

Comparison of county statistics to state turn out statics, over the past 20 years show:

2014 — 50,823 registered voters, 16,834 casting ballots for a 33 percent turnout. There were 15,070 voting in person with 1,764 casting absentee ballots or 10 percent. The state had a 30 percent turn out and 16 percent total absentee ballots.

2012 — 49,213 registered voters with 30,507 casting votes for 62 percent. There were 25,776 voting in person with 4,731 voting absentee or 16 percent. The state had a 58 percent total turn out with 22 percent in absentee ballots.

2010 — 46,286 registered voters with 20,288 casting vote for a 44 percent turn out. There were 18,376 voting on election day with 1,912 casting absentee ballots for a 9 percent absentee ballot total.The state had a 41 percent total turn out with a 14 percent in absentee ballots..

2008 — 48,976 registered voters with 30,864 casting ballots for a 63 percent turn out. There were 25,872 ballots cast in person with 4,992 absentee ballots or 16 percent. The state had a 62 percent total turn out with 24 percent in absentee ballots.

2006 — 49,554 registered voters, 19,355 voting for 39 percent. The in person total was 17,957 with absentee at 1,398 or 7 percent. The state figures were 40 percent total with 10 percent in absentee ballots.

2004 — 49,735 registered voters, 28,828 voting for 58 percent. The total voting in person was 26,135 with 2,692 or 9 percent casting absentee ballots. The state had a 58 percent turnout and a 10 percent in absentee ballots.

2002 — 44,489 registered voters, 17,455 voting for 39 percent. The in person voting total was 16,370 with 1,085 or 6 percent casting absentee ballots. The state had 39 percent turnout with a 7 percent in absentee ballots.

2000 — 44,702 registered voters, 25,754 voting for 58 percent. There were 23,856 in person ballot with 1,898 or 7 percent casting absentee ballots. The state’s total that year was 56 percent and a 9 percent in absentee ballots.

1998 — 40,655 registered voters, 17,739 voting for 44 percent. The state total was 44 percent. No figures were available for absentee ballots.

1996 — 36,469 registered voters, 25,935 voting for 71.12 percent. The state total was 62.93 percent. A percentage of voter turnout was not available.

Additional turnout statistics for previous elections can be found at: www.in.gov/sos/elections/2983.htm.