Inside Penn. registration numbers

[Pototan]

I've been hearing all year about how the Republicans are outpacing Democrats in new registrations. As it turns out, the Democrats have tens of thousands of new voters more than Republicans, but that has been offset by Democratic switches to Republicans.

To me, that means current registered Democrats who don't vote for us have changed their registrations, and new voters, who can choose which party they want to belong to, have chosen us. That a substantial net gain in actual votes for us.

https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-10-12/latest-pa-voter-registration-numbers-show-what-could-happen-in-november?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm5e5BhCWARIsANwm06j5kfZikcFvF4G3AUZiiNqH-_0VARukJjz7t_ekfLu9e6l_t8LJgw0aAuvIEALw_wcB

So far this year, of the more than 100,000 people who registered for the first time online, just over 30,000 more joined the state’s voting ranks as Democrats compared to Republicans. But compared to Democrats, 32,000 more existing voters switched parties to the GOP.

[biophile]

1. Could be some are changes to Republican

I considered it myself to protect my registration from being purged but I live in a blue state with a blue governor and AG. It is unlikely that I will be removed.
Just as likely new registrations don’t want to be hassled before or after the election by militant MAGATs. It also gives you the option of helping to chose a saner candidate in the primary because our state has closed primaries. Lots of reasons to register R and vote D.

[SheltieLover]

5. Same with Independents

I was reading an article with a graph showing some 18% of voters in one state are registered as Independents.

[John1956PA]

2. Some voters feel pressure from family or employer to switch from D to R.

Some domineering husbands could go so far as to pressure wives to vote R on the mail-in ballots.

[SheltieLover]

4. Good thing the voting booth is private so women can vote their conscience!

[jcgoldie]

11. Newt Gingrich is shocked!

How dare those women defy their husband's will in the voting booth! sneaky!

[livetohike]

3. Some may have switched to Rep. to vote against

Trump in the primary election. The primaries are closed, so Independents or third party affiliations can’t vote.

[Pototan]

7. Good point

[Pototan]

8. That's my assumption, also

It's like West Virginia. The Republicans have only a marginal lead in registration, yet give Trump a 40% margin in the elections.

[Maeve]

10. Years ago, i registered R to vote the primary

Just to push for their guy least likely to win in the general. Not proud of it, but I did do that.

[John1956PA]

12. Registering D allows an actual R to work as a D poll official.

I have seen this happen. The townships in my Western Pennsylvania county are deeply red. To fill the spot for the Dem poll official, a person who is actually a Republican at heart will register as a Dem and be elected as the D poll official.