“Unprecedented”
That's the word that Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz is using to describe the massive shift in voter registration to the Democratic party and a corresponding massive young voter engagement in Connecticut this year. And the numbers are truly staggering:
Nearly 18,000 18- to 29-year-olds have registered since May 6, with Democrats signing up 4.3 new young voters for every one that registers as a Republican.
Overall, nearly 39,000 voters of all ages registered over the same 11-week period, nearly matching the 40,000 who signed up in the weeks before the Feb. 5 primary, according to statistics released today.
"The 2008 elections are generating unprecedented interest in the political process, especially among our young voters," Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said.
Since Jan. 1, the state has added 101,138 voters, including 47,468 Democrats, 14,112 Republicans and 38,458 unaffiliated voters.
"To have registration for one political party outpace that of unaffiliated voters is unprecedented in Connecticut," Bysiewicz said. "It is very clear that voters are engaged. They are paying close attention to the issues and the candidates."
As Mark Pazniokas notes, this has specific relevance to the Himes-Shays race:
In the 4th, Democrats have added 11,329 voters this year, compared with 3,462 Republicans and 8,299 unaffiliated voters.
That's an apx. + 8,000 shift in Democratic registration this year. Shays' margin of victory in 2006? 6,645.
Democrats are going into the fall energized and united, and this coming Monday's "Grassroots Get-Together" in Stamford will be a great demonstration of that.
