Project Vote has released this report by Benjamin Spears, examining rates of voter participation in Ohio. Among its findings, according to the press release, are:

– Ohio’s population become more diverse from 2002 to 2006; in part because of a net decline in the White population and in part because the Latino and Asian populations grew by of 14 and 17 percent, respectively.
-A greater percentage of eligible White and Black Ohioans were registered in 2006 than in 2002.
– Ohio’s registration rate disparity between White and Black eligible voters was more pronounced in non-presidential elections, including 2002 and 2006.
– Ohioans were more likely to have voted in the 2006 election than were Americans as a whole.
– Older voters make up a larger share of the electorate than their share of the voting-eligible population merits: 4 of 5 Ohioans over age 30 were registered to vote; less than 3 of 5 Ohioans under 30 were registered.
– The disparity in voting rates between racial and ethnic groups in Ohio widened between 2002 and 2006.