Ziriax: 21,000 New Voters In September; Pinnell Applauds GOP Gains

Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax reports today that more than 21,000 new voters were added last month.

With the October 12 voter registration deadline looming, he said voter registration has seen a net increase of nearly 68,000 voters since January and by more than 21,000 in the month of September.

As of September 30, Oklahoma has 2,068,152 registered voters:

–          DEMOCRAT: 950,223 (46%)

–          REPUBLICAN: 873,351 (42.2%)

–          AMERICANS ELECT: 16

–          INDEPENDENT: 244,562 (11.8%)

Democrats still have the most registered voters in Oklahoma, but Republicans and Independents are growing at a faster rate.

Since January, there has been a net increase of 45,094 Republicans, a net increase of 15,492 Independents, and a net increase of 6,940 Democrats. Also back in January, Democrats were 47.1% of registered voters, Republicans were 41.4%, and Independents were 11.5%.

Among “active” voters, the gap between the two major parties is closer:

–          DEMOCRAT ACTIVE VOTERS: 801,839 (45.6%)

–          REPUBLICAN ACTIVE VOTERS: 771,933 (44%)

–          AMERICANS ELECT ACTIVE VOTERS: 16

–          INDEPENDENT ACTIVE VOTERS: 182,315 (10.4%)

(Inactive voters are allowed to vote and can “reactivate” their status by voting or initiating a change in voter registration.)

For information about voter registration in Oklahoma or to obtain a voter registration application, visit http://elections.ok.gov.

Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell said, “Today’s voter registration numbers echo what we have been saying since I became Chairman in 2010: the Democrat Party – both on a national and state level – has taken a hard-left turn and is not turning back.

“It is no coincidence that as the Oklahoma Democratic Party has taken positions increasingly at odds with Oklahoma voters, that voter registration is tilting even more Republican.

“Just weeks ago, Democrats adopted a national platform that takes positions completely at odds with Oklahoma voters,” continued Pinnell.

“From further gun restrictions and attacks on the energy sector to support for raising taxes in the midst of an economic crisis, the Oklahoma Democratic Party continues to embrace the far-left policies of Barack Obama and national Democrats.”

“More and more Oklahomans are awaking to the fact that there is no longer a place for them in today’s Democrat Party. As that happens, we will be waiting with voter registration forms for any Oklahoman who wishes to join us in our push for a smaller, less-intrusive government,” concluded Pinnell.