PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Voter engagement in the 2012 U.S. presidential election is off from the last two national elections, a Gallup poll released Monday indicated.
Sixty-four percent of Americans said they have given quite a bit of thought to the November election, a slightly lower percentage than measured in comparable polling periods in 2004 and 2008, but higher than the 2000 election, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.
Gallup said results indicate Republicans this year are more attentive than Democrats, possibly because the GOP had a competitive nomination contest and Democratic President Obama was not challenged for the nomination.
Pollsters said engagement among Democrats likely will pick up after the Democratic National Convention in early September.
Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews conducted July 19-22 and with 1,030 adults. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
