Here are the major findings of the analysis:
• After nearly 40 years of decline, the percentage of registered Californians casting ballots has increased in each of the last three presidential elections. On Nov. 4, 79.4 percent of registered voters cast ballots, the highest turnout since 1976.

WASHINGTON -- Alicia Strange, a newly registered Minnesota voter, has waited decades to cast her first vote. At 45, she doesn't care if long lines keep her waiting a few more hours.
"I'm just going to take my time and let it all marinate," said Strange, a security guard from Brooklyn Park who remains undecided in the presidential race.

The result was part exercise in statesmanship, part circus. But it clearly seemed a day few of the participants would forget. As of 1 p.m., Harris County early voting totals had already surpassed the first-day total in 2004 of 20,868, according to the County Clerk's office.
Lines began forming long before the polls opened at 8 a.m., and tempers ran short at a few locations as glitches caused delays in the process.
Harris County election officials said the problems were not widespread and were being resolved.

Turnout was heavy at polling sites in Santa Fe and Albuquerque as early voting started Saturday.

In fact, waiting times were so long at a south-side Santa Fe location that some people who wanted to cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 4 election gave up and left.

And people who tried to vote downtown at the Santa Fe County administration building on Grant Avenue found the front doors locked Saturday and a sign posted that blamed the Secretary of State's Office for misinformation mailed to voters about that site.