State voter registration tops 2 million, Dems double advantage in the state

For the first time since 2004, the number of registered voters in Oregon has topped 2 million. And this time we did it 6 months early - we didn't hit 2 million until September in 2004 - we hit it in April this time.

At the beginning of the year, there was about a 70,000 voter difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties. That lead has grown to 141,640. This increase isn't just affecting strongholds like Multnomah County - Democrats now outnumber Republicans by 3,545 in Clackamas County and 10,117 in Washington County. In Jackson County, the Republican lead has been cut down by 4,000.

Just since the beginning of the year, elections officials have registered more than 112,000 - about half new registrants and half party affiliation changes. Many people are excited about the presidential candidates and are re-registering so they can vote for Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. Others are re-registering to vote in other races, like the U.S. Senate race. I know several people, including my husband, who have re-registered just so they can vote for Steve Novick.

According to The Oregonian:

Obama has trounced Clinton among younger voters in earlier primaries, and that could work to his advantage in Oregon. In the months before the 2006 primary, about half of newly registered voters were 18 to 30 years old. So far this year, 18- to 30-year-olds account for 58 percent of a much larger influx of new voters.

You can read The Oregonian's entire story on the voter registration numbers and its potential effect on the election here.