To solve this question, we need to carefully analyze the data presented in the table and match it with the provided options.
The table presents voter turnout percentages for states with same-day registration and for states without same-day registration across two different years, 2008 and 2012:
- States with Same-Day Registration:
- 2008: 71%
- 2012: 71%
- States without Same-Day Registration:
- 2008: 62%
- 2012: 59%
Let's evaluate the given options one by one:
1. More states offered same-day registration than states that did not.
- The table does not provide any information about the number of states offering same-day registration versus those that do not. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be drawn from the table.
2. States with same-day registration had a higher voter turnout than states without same-day registration.
- In both 2008 and 2012, the voter turnout in states with same-day registration was 71%, which is higher than in states without same-day registration (62% in 2008 and 59% in 2012). This comparison indicates that states with same-day registration had consistently higher voter turnout in both years.
3. More voters cast ballots in 2008 than in 2012, no matter what their state's registration policy.
- For states with same-day registration, the voter turnout was the same (71%) in both years, so this conclusion cannot be drawn based on the information given.
4. Voter turnout was much the same in states with and without same-day registration.
- There is a noticeable difference in voter turnout between states with same-day registration (71%) and those without (62% in 2008 and 59% in 2012). Thus, voter turnout is not the same in states with and without same-day registration.
Based on the observations:
- The voter turnout in states with same-day registration was higher in both 2008 and 2012.
Therefore, the most accurate conclusion is:
States with same-day registration had a higher voter turnout than states without same-day registration.
So, the correct option is 2.
