Major political parties lose members in California

Central Valley Business Times, 3/30/15

The third largest political party in California is a non-party, according to the latest voter registration figures released Monday night by Secretary of State Alex Padilla.

As of Feb. 10, those registering to vote with “no party preference” totaled 4,175,643 Californians or 23.57 percent of the total registered voters. The number of registered voters with no party preference has increased by 2.7 percent.

That’s up from 3,766,457 who were registered without political party affiliation two years earlier.

The report shows that 72.7 percent of eligible Californians were registered to vote as of February 10, 2015. That’s a total of 17,717,936 Californians who are currently registered to vote – down 337,847 since the last off-year report, but up 531,405 from two years earlier.

“While registration rates fluctuate year-to-year, the stubborn truth remains that more than a quarter of otherwise eligible California citizens are not registered to vote,” says Mr. Padilla. “If we are serious about increasing voter turnout in California, we must do more to increase voter registration in California.”

Mr. Padilla is calling for a new “Motor Voter” law that would seamlessly register voters when they get a driver’s license or renew one. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law a similar measure earlier this month. Mr. Padilla calls the Oregon law “a model for California.”

In the last two years, the percentage of voters registered with the Democratic Party decreased by 0.7 percent to 43.15 percent or 7,645,173 voters.

Voters registered with the Republican Party decreased by 0.9 percent over the same period to 4,958,225. That’s 29.96 percent of a smaller total, compared to 28.94 percent in 2013.

The new report reflects updates to voter registration rolls in California’s 58 counties, including the removal of registrants who have died, moved out of state, or have been determined to be ineligible to vote, as well as the addition of new registrants.

By law, statewide voter registration updates must occur 60 and 15 days before each general election, and 154, 60 and 15 days before each primary election.