Published: October 18, 2007 02:42 pm            

Voter registration record broken

October 18, 2007 — (Frankfort, KY) – More Kentuckians are registered to vote than ever before in Kentucky, according to figures released by Secretary of State Trey Grayson and the Kentucky State Board of Elections. In total, 2,840,898 citizens will appear on Kentucky’s voter rolls for the November 6, 2007 general election. This figure eclipses the previous record, set for the 2007 primary election, which totaled 2,795,013. There were 2,766,288 citizens registered to vote in the 2006 general election and 2,709,959 in the 2006 primary.

“These figures are indicative of the diligent work of the State Board of Elections and County Clerks to ensure a fair and honest election while maximizing the number of registered voters in the Commonwealth. Because of their efforts, Kentucky has one of the best voter registration databases in the country,” stated Secretary of State Trey Grayson. “These healthy registration figures are hopefully an indication of a potentially strong turnout on election day.”

The registration totals are a net increase of 45,885 voters from those who were registered to vote in the 2007 primary election, increasing the voter rolls by 1.64%.

Registration figures continued to show little change in the percentage of male and female voters with females representing nearly 53% of the registration population and males representing 47%.

In terms of party registration, voters registered as “Others” saw the greatest percentage increases. While both Democrats and Republicans increased their number of registered voters by 1.60%, 1.47%, since May of 2007, respectively, “Others” nearly doubled their pace by increasing by 2.98%. Democrats increased their voters by 25,495 to 1,616,586. Republicans increased their voters by 15,001 to 1,037,861. “Others” increased their voters by 5,389 to 186,451.

“Others” were also the only designation to increase their percentages of the Kentucky voter rolls as they now comprise 6.56% of Kentucky voters. That is an increase of 0.08% since the primary election. Democrats and Republicans saw their percentage decrease from 56.93% and 36.6%, respectively, in the May primary election to 56.9% and 36.53% for the upcoming election, a decrease of 0.03% and 0.07%, respectively.

Compared to the 2003 general registration figures, there has been a net increase of 135,445 in total voters, or 5.00%; 30,768 in Democratic voters, or 1.94%; 93,664 in Republican voters, or 9.92%, and 11,013 “other” voters, or 6.28%. Democrats, Republicans, and “Others” represented 58.62%, 34.90%, and 6.49% of the electorate in 2003, respectively. Since 2003, the percentage of the electorate has changed -1.69% for Democrats, 1.7% for Republicans and 0.07% for “Others” as compared to current percentages of Kentucky registered voters.

Secretary Grayson noted that the election’s focus now shifts to getting people to the polls on Election Day. “Now that the registration books are closed, we must work diligently to see that every registered Kentuckian votes in the November 6, 2007 general election.”

Grayson encouraged citizens to utilize the Voter Information Center (VIC) on the State Board of Election’s website to confirm their voter registration, determine whether they are eligible to vote in the primary, and to locate their polling place. For complete registration statistics and additional election information or to access the VIC, please visit www.elect.ky.gov .

        

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