The Census Bureau today is reporting what Minnesotans have long known and can be proud of: Minnesota's citizens consistently lead the nation in casting their ballots.

Newly released census figures show that in the 2008 presidential election, Minnesota and the District Columbia led the nation in turnout with 75 percent. The national average was 63.6 percent.

At the other end, Hawaii and Utah brought up the rear at 52 percent.

Regionally, Minnesota fueled the Midwest in that breakdown as well. Midwesterners came out on top at 66 percent. The West, Northeast and South each came in at 63 percent.

For the nation as a whole, about 131 million people reported voting in the 2008 presidential election, an increase of 5 million from 2004.

The increase included about 2 million more black voters, 2 million more Hispanic voters and about 600,000 more Asian voters, while the number of non-Hispanic white voters remained statistically unchanged.