Politics & Government

Election 2012: 130,000 New Voters Register in Connecticut

Unaffiliated voters still make up the bulk of the electorate, but more Democrats than Republicans have registered to vote this year ahead of the presidential elections, according to Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.

More than 40,000 state residents have registered to vote in the last three weeks, and so far this year more Democrats than Republicans have registered, according to data from the Office of the Secretary of the State.

Tuesday's voter-registration report, the first since Sept. 25, also showed that a total of 130,000 new voters have registered so far this election year, including 45,625 new Democrats and 23,379 new Republicans.

Unaffiliated voters made up the largest bloc, however, as 58,310 state residents opted to side with no official party, the latest numbers showed.

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There are now more than 2 million registered voters in Connecticut, of which 842,335 — or 41 percent — are unaffiliated. Connecticut has leaned left over the past two decades, having voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill noted that voters who want to register by mail in time for the Nov. 6 election between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney must have their registration cards postmarked no later than Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The final deadline to register to vote in-person at town or city offices is Tuesday, Oct. 30.  

“For all of the campaigning that has taken place in the last year, there remain just two weeks to register to vote in Connecticut before this crucial Presidential election, and I urge every eligible voter: don’t sit on the sidelines. Register now so your voice can be heard on November 6th,” Merrill said.

Here's the full listed of registered voters by party as of Oct. 16:

PARTY                                                     COUNT

A Better Future                                                      6

A Connecticut Party                                               6

A Sentinel Party                                                   26

Canterbury First                                                     2

Chatham Party                                                       9

Concerned Citizens                                            183

Connecticut For Lieberman                                 79

Democratic                                                  744,729

Enfield Taxpayers Party                                        2

Friends Of Saybrook                                            13

Green                                                               1,751

Guilty                                                                     1

Independence                                                     826

Independence For Montville                                  7 

Independent                                                   12,042 

Independent Choice                                                1 

Independent Party of Darien                                   1 

Libertarian                                                       1,433 

Milford Independent Party                                     3 

Norwich for Change                                               1 

Pro-Bethel                                                              2 

Realistic Balance                                                   3 

Reform                                                                 85 

Republican                                                  422,312 

Swing                                                                     2 

The Hampton Party                                                1 

Unaffiliated                                                 842,335 

We The People                                                    44 

Winsted Independent                                           37 

Working Families                                              195

                                                          ===========

                                TOTAL                     2,026,137

 

                          NEW VOTERS SINCE 1/1/12              

 

PARTY                                                     COUNT

A Connecticut Party                                           1

Canterbury First                                                1

Chatham Party                                                  1

Concerned Citizens                                            1

Connecticut For Lieberman                                 5

Democratic                                                  45,625

Friends Of Saybrook                                          1

Green                                                              148

Independence                                                    65

Independent                                                 2,759

Independent Choice                                            1

Independent Party of Darien                               1

Libertarian                                                       240

Reform                                                                 7 

Republican                                                  23,379 

Swing                                                                   1 

Unaffiliated                                                 58,310 

We The People                                                    3 

Winsted Independent                                           1 

Working Families                                              36 

                                                    =========== 

                                TOTAL                  130,586 


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