Voter Registration

Since 2004, most of the 29 states with partisan registration have seen an increase in the percentage of voters registered as Democrats. According to the New York Times, Kentucky is one of just three states, along with Louisiana and Oklahoma, in which Democratic registration dropped while Republican registration increased.

In November of 2004, Democrats made up 55.8 percent of registered voters in Kentucky. By mid-July of this year -- the latest for which data is available -- that figure dipped to 55.3 percent. During the same period, Republican registration increased from 35.7 percent to 36.3 percent.

The nationwide trend of increased voter registration has not avoided Kentucky, according to new figures today, although the leap in the size of the voter rolls in the Commonwealth is not as large as elsewhere.

Kentucky adds a net total of 16,333 new voters for 2008, according to release from the office of Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Park Hills). That figure boosts Kentucky's total registered population to an all-time high of 2,857,231.

The Secretary's office notes that is only a 0.58 percent hike from the last elections in November of 2007. Between the general election of 2006 and the 2007 state elections - which included a competitive Governor's race - there was 1.04 percent hike in the size of the voter roll.

The Kentucky electorate expanded by 21,000 new voters in January and February, as the May 20 presidential primary in the Commonwealth will be relevant for the first time in decades.

USA Today reports registration figures in six of the eight states with forthcoming Democratic primaries have seen a similar spike in registrations.

April 22 is the last day for Kentucky voters to register to be eligible to vote in the primary election.