Story highlights
- 65.7% - The percentage of eligible female voters who voted in the 2008 election.
- 61.5% - The percentage of eligible male voters who voted in the 2008 election.
- 70.4 million -- The number of women who cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election, versus 60.7 million men.
- 56% - The percentage of female voters who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, versus 43% for John McCain.
The close race for the White House between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, former Gov. Mitt Romney, could very well be decided by women voters in the battleground states. So, here's a look at women voters, by the numbers.
The Gender Gap, 1964-2008
8 -- The number of consecutive presidential elections in which a larger percentage of eligible women have voted than eligible men, back to 1980.
12 -- The number of consecutive presidential elections in which the number of female voters has been greater than the number of male voters, back to 1964.
Could Romney face heat over Mourdock? 01:26
Abortion and the war for women's votes 04:18
Candidates' wives vie for women's votes 03:23
Obama and Romney try to win over women 04:09
5 -- The number of consecutive presidential elections in which the majority of women have voted for the Democratic candidate, from 1992 to 2008.
2 -- The number of times since 1980 in which the majority of men have voted for the Democratic candidate, in 1992 and 2008.
The 2008 Election
65.7% - The percentage of eligible female voters who voted in the 2008 election.
61.5% - The percentage of eligible male voters who voted in the 2008 election.
70.4 million -- The number of women who cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election, versus 60.7 million men.
56% - The percentage of female voters who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, versus 43% for John McCain.
70% - The percentage of single female voters who voted for Barack Obama over John McCain in 2008.
597,000 -- The number by which female voters in Florida outvoted males in the 2008 election, the largest gap in the swing states.
The 2012 Election Cycle
39% - In a Gallup survey, the percentage of female registered voters in 12 key states who rated abortion as the most important issue for women in the 2012 election. The issue did not rank as one of the top 10 priorities for men among registered male voters.
60% - In a Gallup survey, the percentage of female registered voters in 12 key states, who rated government policies on birth control as an extremely/very important issue influencing their vote, versus 39% of registered male voters.
