NYT: A Big Increase of New Voters in Swing States

[Geek_Girl]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/politics/campaign/26vote.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1096160513-koPxNCtjbiHM/Wxoe1jwvQ

A Big Increase of New Voters in Swing States

OLUMBUS, Ohio - A sweeping voter registration campaign in heavily Democratic areas has added tens of thousands of new voters to the rolls in the swing states of Ohio and Florida, a surge that has far exceeded the efforts of Republicans in both states, a review of registration data shows.

The analysis by The New York Times of county-by-county data shows that in Democratic areas of Ohio - primarily low-income and minority neighborhoods - new registrations since January have risen 250 percent over the same period in 2000. In comparison, new registrations have increased just 25 percent in Republican areas. A similar pattern is apparent in Florida: in the strongest Democratic areas, the pace of new registration is 60 percent higher than in 2000, while it has risen just 12 percent in the heaviest Republican areas.

While comparable data could not be obtained for other swing states, similar registration drives have been mounted in them as well, and party officials on both sides say record numbers of new voters are being registered nationwide. This largely hidden but deadly earnest battle is widely believed by campaign professionals and political scientists to be potentially decisive in the presidential election.

"We know it's going on, and it's a very encouraging sign," said Steve Elmendorf, deputy campaign manager for Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee. The new voters, Mr. Elmendorf said, "could very much be the difference."

[salib]

1. Not just in swing states

Here in Texas there are over a hundred people registering students at each the colleges I have heard from. It is VERY encouraging.

[RhodaGrits]

2. I have been asking people if they are registered to vote...

and have been very surprised (and happy) to hear how many people of all age brackets have registered to vote for the very first time so they can vote for Kerry.

[robbedvoter]

3. yeah, but not "likely voters" - they just registered as a lark

At least the pollsters know so, so stop saying that!

[goclark]

4. I just finished registering voters today

Most of the young people that I spoke to were already registered and they are excited about voting for Kerry!

[Roy]

5. Nearly every strip mall

grocery store, thrift store has people registering new voters. Every time my wife goes out she mentions that people are every where registering voters, armed with absentee voter and change of address forms.
Different dem organizations have been to my door at least twice. Before this election, you never even saw people working in the inner city. Though it is never necessary no one has ever lnocked on my door.

They say they will be re-visiting every home to insure that people have voted and have transportation to the polls.

This is compared to the last election when I personally offered the dem office (two blocks from home) 3 vans with drivers (from my business) as transportation to polls. They said sure, but it was obvious they were not interested. I never got one call for transportation.

Couple this with a lot of people that I know that are still hopping mad from the 2000 shenanigans here.

Again, I repeat..... don't count Missouri out just yet.

[demosincebirth]

6. Hot dog!

[rman]

7. kick

-

[Sterling]

8. Don't worry guys Diebold will take care of this.

I hope you guys are ready for a fight when they try to steal this thing.