The percentage of Americans showing up at the polls has reached an all-time low since the U.S. Census Bureau began collecting data on voting behavior and citizenship status in 1978.

According to the agency's latest report on congressional elections and electoral behavior, voter turnout has waned considerably since 1978 and dropped by roughly 4 percentage points since the congressional election in 2010.

Overall, 41.9 percent of eligible voters participated in the 2014 midterm elections and when broken down by race, age, income, or marital status, the voter turnout rate fluctuates significantly.

In 2014, the electoral participation rate for Americans age 65 and over was 59.4 percent, which trumps the mere 23.1 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds who turned out to vote in the congressional election. According to the report, the voting rate for individuals over 65 has remained largely unchanged since 1978.

Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and 2012 in part by getting traditionally low-turnout voting blocs to show up at the polls in greater numbers than usual.

Report author Thom File notes that "regardless of whether we're looking at non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks or Hispanics, voting rates tend to increase significantly with age."

"In recent congressional elections, we've seen low levels of engagement among young people and the opposite for older Americans," File said in a press release.

Marital status and education also play a role in determining an individual's level of engagement. According to the report, the voting rate among married Americans in the 2014 election was a little over 50 percent — far greater than the 25.9 percent turnout rate among single voters.

Veterans and individuals with advanced degrees were also more likely to participate electorally. The report revealed a 62 percent voting rate among individuals with advanced degrees, 54.2 percent rate among Americans who had previously served in the military.

The report used data collected every two years through the Bureau's current population survey to provide the details on voting behavior and other population characteristics.