Only 69.2 percent of Maryland residents who are eligible to vote are registered. This is the seventh-lowest in the nation among the 48 states that require voters to register before election day. The national average is 76 percent.

Percent of eligible

State ........................voters registered..................Rank

Arizona..............................59.9................................48

Wyoming............................61.5................................47

California...........................63. 2.................................46

Nevada..............................64.6.................................45

Georgia..............................65. 5.................................44

Texas................................69. 1..................................43

Maryland............................69.2.................................42

Hawaii................................70 .1.................................41

Virginia...............................7 1.6.................................40

South Carolina.....................72.5...............................39

Source: Federal Election Commission, 2000