GOP Gains in Voter Registration

Republicans continue to gain in voter registration.

Since Jan. 15, the number of registered voters in Oklahoma increased by 24,993, state Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said Wednesday [Sept. 15].
Republicans made the biggest gains adding 18,548 to their numbers while Independents increased 8,161. Democrats dropped by 1,716.

Democrats with 48.4% still maintain the greatest share of the state's 2,063,613 registered voters. Republicans are at 40.3% and Independents total 11.3%.
In 1980, Democrats were 75.8% of registered voters while Republicans were 22.8% and Independents were 1.4%.

Republicans have been making gains since the mid-1960's, said Keith Gaddie, an OU political science professor. Within the next decade he expects Republicans to be in the majority in voter registration.
"Mostly new registration is Republican", Gaddie said. "That is a long term trend in Oklahoma."
A lot of people who are registered as Democrats tend to vote for Republicans in at least National elections, said Richard Johnson, chairman of the political science dept at OCU.
"The Democratic presence in the state is overstated by the registration," Johnson said.
He attributes part of the rise in Republican registration to the tea party movement.

Deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 2 General Election is October 8.
To register to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old on or before election day, a US citizen, and a legal resident of the state.

Barbara Hoberock - Tulsa World via Oklahoman