(The Center Square) – With North Carolina’s primary work in the rearview mirror, voter registrations are rebounding following four weeks of declines overall and in each of the three major voting blocs.
All had gains for the most recent seven days as reported Saturday by the State Board of Elections.
The 13,400 increase had an 81.4% share bolster the unaffiliated bloc. Republicans gain 12.8%, or 1,710, and Democrats 7.4% (991).
The nation’s ninth largest state counts 7,719,656 registrations from its 11.2 million population. The independents grew in share to 39.3% (more than 3 million), more than 707,000 greater than Republicans (30.1%), and more than 717,000 greater than Democrats (30%). The Libertarian Party has 46,448 (0.6%) and the Green Party 4,498 (0.05%).
Before the past week, Democrats had endured eight consecutive weeks of decline and Republicans four in a row. Routine maintenance throughout the year is a key contributing factor to the volume changes.
It was a mere 16 years ago when Democrats were in eight of 10 seats for the Council of State and commanded 30-20 and 68-52 majorities in the General Assembly. Then came the historic 2010 midterms, and both chambers being won by Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction 140 years earlier.
Today those figures are 5-5 in the executive offices, and Republicans hold advantages of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives.
For context on how Democrats once had a lock, from the every two years elections of 1930 to 1982 the party was below 43 of the 50 state Senate seats just twice (won 38 in 1969, won 35 in 1973) and didn’t have fewer than 30 until only getting 26 in the 1994 cycle. From 1930 to 1982 in the House, Democrats had fewer than 102 of the 120 just six times with 85 won in 1974 the worst.
Three decades ago at Election Day 1992, North Carolinians elected Democrats to all 10 Council of State positions and majorities of 39-11 in the state Senate and 78-42 in the House.
