Press Release: UB Regional Institute Policy Brief Goes 'Inside the Ballot Box' for 2008 Presidential Election

The UB Regional Institute's latest policy brief, "Inside the Ballot Box," presents a detailed analysis of Western New York’s voting patterns in the 2008 presidential election. The release of the brief is accompanied by new election data posted on the institute’s Regional Knowledge Network, an online clearinghouse of information on the Buffalo Niagara region. Visitors to the site will find data and maps on 2004 and 2008 election results and voter registration, turnout and party affiliation.

Among the brief's key findings are that the region’s most populated areas - urban and suburban - voted for Barack Obama, although 85 percent of the region’s municipalities voted for McCain. The region also voted more Democratic in 2008 compared to 2004, especially rural areas, while the region’s rank of registered Republicans shrank.