75 Million Used Internet for Politics in 2004

Posted on March 25, 2005

The internet became an essential part of American politics in 2004. Fully 75 million Americans �- 37% of the adult population and 61% of online Americans �- used the internet to get political news and information, discuss candidates and debate issues in emails, or participate directly in the political process by volunteering or giving contributions to candidates.

A post-election, nationwide survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the Pew Research Center for The People & The Press shows that the online political news consumer population grew dramatically from 18% of the U.S. population in 2000 to 29% in 2004. There was also a striking increase in the number who cited the internet as one of their primary sources of news about the presidential campaign: 11% of registered voters said the internet was a primary source of political news in 2000 and 18% said that in 2004.

For campaign 2004, the overall figures related to uses of the internet for politics were:

• 52% of internet users, or about 63 million people, said they went online to get news or information about the 2004 elections.
• 35% of internet users, or about 43 million people, said they used email to discuss politics, and one of the most popular email subjects was jokes about the candidates and the election.
• 11% of internet users, or more than 13 million people, went online to engage directly in campaign activities such as donating money, volunteering, or learning about political events to attend.