ID :
14967
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 18:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14967
The shortlink copeid
Voter registration signals shift away from Republicans
New York, Aug 5 (PTI) A rise in the number of voters registering as Democrats and a corresponding fall in those preferring Republican Party during the last three years is upsetting electoral balance between the two parties and could affect upcoming electoral cycles, a media report has said.
While the implication of the changing electoral landscape is far from clear for Barack Obama and John McCain -- current contender for the White House -- voting experts said registration numbers may signal the beginning of a move away from Republicans.
Already, there has been a sharp reversal for Republicans in many legislatures and governors' mansions, the New York Times said adding, in several states, including traditional battlegrounds of Nevada and Iowa, Democrats have surprised their own party officials with significant gains in registration.
In both of those states, there are now more registered Democrats than Republicans, a flip from 2004, and no states have switched to the Republicans over the same period, the paper said quoting data from 26 of the 29 states in which voters register by party.
In six states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, the Democratic piece of the registration pie grew more than three percentage points, while the Republican share declined, it added.
In only three states — Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma — did Republican registration rise while Democratic registration fell, but the Republican increase was less than a percentage point in Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Louisiana was the only state to register a gain of more than one percentage point for Republicans as Democratic numbers declined, the paper said.
Over the same period, share of electorate that registers as independent has grown at a greater rate than Republicans or Democrats in 12 states.
The rise has been so significant that in states like Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina, nonpartisan voters essentially constitute a third party, the Times said.
Swings in party registration are not uncommon from one year to the next, or even over two years. Registration, moreover, often has no impact on how people actually vote, and people sometimes switch registration to vote in a primary, then flip again come Election Day.
But for a shift away from one party to sustain itself — the current registration trend is now in its fourth year — is remarkable, the Times said quoting researchers who study voting patterns say.
And though comparable data are not available for the 21 states where voters do not register by party, there is evidence that an increasing number of voters in those states are also moving away from the Republican Party based on the results of recent state and Congressional elections, the researchers said.
While the implication of the changing electoral landscape is far from clear for Barack Obama and John McCain -- current contender for the White House -- voting experts said registration numbers may signal the beginning of a move away from Republicans.
Already, there has been a sharp reversal for Republicans in many legislatures and governors' mansions, the New York Times said adding, in several states, including traditional battlegrounds of Nevada and Iowa, Democrats have surprised their own party officials with significant gains in registration.
In both of those states, there are now more registered Democrats than Republicans, a flip from 2004, and no states have switched to the Republicans over the same period, the paper said quoting data from 26 of the 29 states in which voters register by party.
In six states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, the Democratic piece of the registration pie grew more than three percentage points, while the Republican share declined, it added.
In only three states — Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma — did Republican registration rise while Democratic registration fell, but the Republican increase was less than a percentage point in Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Louisiana was the only state to register a gain of more than one percentage point for Republicans as Democratic numbers declined, the paper said.
Over the same period, share of electorate that registers as independent has grown at a greater rate than Republicans or Democrats in 12 states.
The rise has been so significant that in states like Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina, nonpartisan voters essentially constitute a third party, the Times said.
Swings in party registration are not uncommon from one year to the next, or even over two years. Registration, moreover, often has no impact on how people actually vote, and people sometimes switch registration to vote in a primary, then flip again come Election Day.
But for a shift away from one party to sustain itself — the current registration trend is now in its fourth year — is remarkable, the Times said quoting researchers who study voting patterns say.
And though comparable data are not available for the 21 states where voters do not register by party, there is evidence that an increasing number of voters in those states are also moving away from the Republican Party based on the results of recent state and Congressional elections, the researchers said.
