130,000 New Voters Register in Connecticut Ahead of 2012 Election

More than 40,000 state residents have registered to vote in the last three weeks. And more Democrats than Republicans have registered to vote since the beginning of 2012, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office.

In Tuesday's voter registration report, the first since Sept. 25, also showed that 130,000 new voters have registered so far this election year, including 45,625 new Democrats and 23,379 new Republicans. 

Unaffiliated voters made up the largest bloc, however, as 58,310 state residents opted to register with no official party, the latest numbers showed.

In total, there are more than 2 million registered voters in Connecticut in 2012 of which 842,335 — or 41 percent — are unaffiliated. Connecticut has leaned left over the past two decades, having voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill noted that voters who want to register by mail in time for the Nov. 6 election must have their registration cards postmarked no later than Tuesday, Oct. 23.

The final deadline to register to vote in-person at town or city offices is Tuesday Oct. 30. 

“For all of the campaigning that has taken place in the last year, there remain just two weeks to register to vote in Connecticut before this crucial presidential election, and I urge every eligible voter: don’t sit on the sidelines. Register now so your voice can be heard on November 6,” Merrill said.