The number of Americans who voted in congressional elections reached an all-time low in 2014, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Only 41.9 percent of eligible American voters showed up to the polls during the 2014 congressional election, 7 percentage points lower than the first time the Census Bureau asked the question in 1978 and down from the 45.5 percent who reported voting the 2010 congressional election.
While the voting rates of every age group between 18 and 64 dropped between 1978 and 2014, the voting rate for those over 65 remained about the same as it was in 1978.
Among 18-34-year-olds, only 23.1 percent voted in 2014, whereas for the 65-and-older age group, 59.4 percent voted.
"In recent congressional elections, we've seen low levels of engagement among young people and the opposite for older Americans," said report author and Census Bureau sociologist Thom File. "These age differences cut across racial and ethnic groups as well. Regardless of whether we're looking at non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks or Hispanics, voting rates tend to increase significantly with age."
The Census Bureau also found that marital status and education played a significant role in voter turnout. While 50.9 percent of married Americans who lived together voted, only 25.9 percent of those who have never been married voted. Sixty-two percent with advanced degrees voted.
Veterans were also more politically engaged, with 54.2 percent voting in 2014 congressional elections.
The biggest surge in voter turnout came during George W. Bush's tenure, according to the Washington Examiner.
About 105 million Americans voted for president in 2000, compared to 122 million in 2004, a 16 percent increase. That's the largest increase between two presidential elections since 1948 and 1952, reports the Examiner.
In 2008, turnout increased an additional 7 percentage points to 131 million, however, in 2012, voter turnout decreased to 129 million.
