New data show the number of registered voters in California has increased slightly compared with the state’s last presidential primary. But the overall registration rate is down.
The state has added more than 230,000 voters to the rolls since 2012. That means just over 70 percent of eligible California voters are actually registered. But that’s down from almost 72 percent at this time four years ago. Democrats still make up about 44 percent of voters, Republicans dropped from about 30 percent to 27.5 percent and voters with no party preference account for about 24 percent.
Still, when people register to vote might matter as much as how many people register. Mindy Romero directs the California Civic Engagement Project at UC Davis. She says people typically register for primaries in April or May. This year people were registering earlier in the year.
"That early registration is a sign that people are interested. They're motivated," she says. And that means they're more likely to actually cast a ballot.
"Registration rates don't generally fluctuate that much in California," she says. "What does fluctuate is the turnout rate, significantly, across elections."