Expect a huge voter turnout this week, the Center for the Study of the American Electorate said Sunday.

The American University-based organization studies voter trends, and reported turnout could be the highest since 1960.

"The biggest single reason is the condition of the nation and the deep discontent, fear, and, at least in some cases, anger of the citizenry," CSAE said in its analysis. "Since 1960, when American turnout reached its apex, there have been three elections where turnout substantially increased—1982, 1992 and 2004."

In 1982 and 1992, the nation was emerging from severe recessions, and in 2004, the Iraq war helpd stoke interest.

In 2008, it found, "the nation is substantially more emotionally concerned than any of these elections—nearly 90 percent see the nation on the wrong track (a figure probably only previously achieved in 1932), more than 70 percent disapprove of the president and his performance, there is a shared feeling that the nation is in a recession and that economic conditions will get worse, almost everyone has taken a major hit to their savings and their assets, and many are fearful for their jobs and livelihood."

Registration for the general election was up by about 2.5 percentage points, reaching its biggest level since women got the vote in 1920. Some 153.1 million people, or 73.5 percent of the eligible population, will have registered, up from the previous record of 72.1 percent in 1964.

As a result, said CSAE Director Curtis Gans in a statement, "this...could lead to a turnout of as many as 135 million or 64.8 percent of eligible citizens the highest since 1960 when 67 percent of eligibles voted – the high point since women were given the right to vote in 1920."

That could be particularly good news for Democrats, since that party registeration was up by an estimated 1.4 percent percentage points, while Republican registration dipped.

"The fact that GOP registration declined in this year of intense citizen interest in the election is significant," CSAE reported.

Complete turnout analysis

Expect a huge voter turnout this week, the Center for the Study of the American Electorate said Sunday.

The American University-based organization studies voter trends, and reported turnout could be the highest since 1960.

"The biggest single reason is the condition of the nation and the deep discontent, fear, and, at least in some cases, anger of the citizenry," CSAE said in its analysis. "Since 1960, when American turnout reached its apex, there have been three elections where turnout substantially increased—1982, 1992 and 2004."

In 1982 and 1992, the nation was emerging from severe recessions, and in 2004, the Iraq war helpd stoke interest.

In 2008, it found, "the nation is substantially more emotionally concerned than any of these elections—nearly 90 percent see the nation on the wrong track (a figure probably only previously achieved in 1932), more than 70 percent disapprove of the president and his performance, there is a shared feeling that the nation is in a recession and that economic conditions will get worse, almost everyone has taken a major hit to their savings and their assets, and many are fearful for their jobs and livelihood."

Registration for the general election was up by about 2.5 percentage points, reaching its biggest level since women got the vote in 1920. Some 153.1 million people, or 73.5 percent of the eligible population, will have registered, up from the previous record of 72.1 percent in 1964.

As a result, said CSAE Director Curtis Gans in a statement, "this...could lead to a turnout of as many as 135 million or 64.8 percent of eligible citizens the highest since 1960 when 67 percent of eligibles voted – the high point since women were given the right to vote in 1920."

That could be particularly good news for Democrats, since that party registeration was up by an estimated 1.4 percent percentage points, while Republican registration dipped.

"The fact that GOP registration declined in this year of intense citizen interest in the election is significant," CSAE reported.

Complete turnout analysis

Voters in John McCain's Ohio crowds Friday often mentioned national security as a major reason they're backing him. It was a topic that has often been in the background in recent weeks, but as the election draws near, it seemed to be coming up more and more.

McCain in his Saturday radio address devoted a big chunk of time to the topic.

"Victory must still be secured, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Obama opposed removing the dictator in Iraq, and now obstinately opposes the need to defend the young democracy in that country -- even with victory so clearly in sight. He cites as his most courageous moment in public life a speech he gave in 2002 -- against a war resolution on which he had no vote, on a matter of national security for which he bore no responsibility," the Republican nomiinee said.

"He hopes you will forget the votes he cast when he actually did have responsibility, his votes to prevent the strategy that is leading to victory, and to deny funding for the troops who are gaining that victory. And now he hopes that in the cloud of crisis at home you will forget the stakes in Iraq -- the disaster and tragedy that would follow if American forces leave in retreat."

The Ohio Republican party has been sending mailers to state residents claiming that Obama would be soft on terrorism, and McCain Saturday picked up on the theme.

"With terrorists still plotting new strikes across the world, millions of innocent lives are still at stake, including American lives. Our enemies' violent ambitions must still be prevented -- by American vigilance, by diplomacy and cooperation with our partners, and by force of arms as a last resort," McCain said.

He noted that since coming to the Senate in 2005, "Barack Obama has displayed some impressive qualities. But the question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, and other grave threats in the world. And he has given you no reason to answer in the affirmative."

Sen. McCain's Saturday radio address