Active or Apathetic

Areas that generate large donations do not necessarily supply big turnout.

Take the 2004 presidential election, as an example. The ZIP codes that donated the most money to campaigns were concentrated in wealthy enclaves such as New York City, which boasts four ZIP codes in the top five contributing ZIP codes in 2004. While not surprising that these wealthy Upper East Side ZIP codes threw the most cash behind candidates. It is surprising is that only 51.6 percent of New York City citizens of voting age showed up at the polls, according to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Massie Kitsch, communications director of Center for Responsive Politics that tracks money in politics, believes there is no correlation between the two.

"I'd be really surprised if someone opened their checkbook to show financial support for a candidate and didn't vote. If they are motivated enough to donate, they are motivated enough to vote," he says, adding that because of the density of New York City, most of the donations are concentrated within a few neighborhoods, even a few streets.

Since there is no data available beyond city-level that showed the percentage of voter turnout of citizens of voting age, his hunch could be correct.

Curiously, the states that had the greatest voter turnout - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Oregon and New Hampshire respectively - have no ZIP codes in the top 50 donating areas. Minnesota had a 76.1 percent turnout; Wisconsin, 74.1 percent; Maine, 73.7 percent; Oregon, 71.4 percent; and New Hampshire, 70.4 percent. While these were high turnouts at the state level, breaking down the turnouts by localities shows even greater numbers went to the polls. Minnesota's Washington County boasted a turnout rate of 81.8 percent. Ninety-nine percent of citizens of voting age in Bayfield, Wise., voted in the 2004 presidential election. Yet, a total of $750 was reported in contributions - in the entire town - to presidential campaigns.

A possible reason for this, says Ritsch, is small donors. "These energized voters are contributing as well, just at lower levels. ... The average contribution is probably closest to being under $200" It is difficult to ascertain how much the small contributors are giving because finance law does not require the reporting of donations under $250.

States with the lowest turnouts include Hawaii, 47.9 percent; Texas, 52 percent; Arkansas, 52.1 percent; South Carolina, 52.4 percent and Georgia, 53.9 percent.