Voter registration shows a worrying sign for Democrats in the battleground state

(The Center Square) – As voter registration closed Friday evening, more than 7.7 million North Carolinians were registered before in-person, early voting began Thursday.

That's more than 7.3 million on Election Day in 2020 and more than 800,000 more than in 2016.

After the election, the nonpartisans continue to be the biggest winners and the Democrats – the overwhelming electoral party 20 years ago – are the biggest losers.

Meanwhile, Republicans saw their smallest percentage swings in 20 years and the last dozen.

Same-day registration is available in North Carolina during the early in-person voting period; otherwise the registration period ends.

Election Day is still 22 days away, with this cycle marking the longest nationwide vote – President; 14 congressional seats; Governor and nine other seats in the State Council; one seat on the state Supreme Court and three on the Court of Appeals; and 50 state senators and 120 state representatives in the General Assembly in addition to local races.

All three major voting blocs have made gains since Jan. 1, 2004, when the state had just over 5 million registered voters.

Since the 2020 election, unaffiliated people have gained almost half a million – 472,559; Democrats lost 199,981; and Republicans gained 76,350.

As of January 1, 2004, the state's more than 5 million registered voters were divided: 47.6% Democrats, 34.4% Republicans and 17.7% unaffiliated. As of Saturday, it's 37.8% nonpartisan, 31.3% Democrat and 29.9% Republican.

Trends since Labor Day are up 0.2% among nonpartisans, down 0.3% among Democrats, and about the same among Republicans.

The trend change over two decades has been steady for Democrats and nonpartisans. The largest two-year jump — from presidential year to midterms or from midterms to presidential year cycle — in total registrations occurred before the landmark 2008 cycle, when Barack Obama won the presidency.

From the 2006 midterm elections to this Election Day, more than 800,000 registrations were added. Obama's statewide field office campaign strategy was crucial to Democrats winning the state's Electoral College votes for the first time since 1976, only the second time since 1964, and the last time to date.

Still, it was the nonpartisan bloc that rose from 19.4% to 22.2%, while Democrats fell slightly from 45.9% to 45.8%.

The Grand Old Party experienced its largest percentage loss, from 34.7% to 31.9%, over the last 20 years from presidential year to midterm and from midterm to presidential year, respectively.

There are 442,600 fewer Democrats registered Saturday than the day Obama won. Total registrations increased by 1,471,381; Unconnected increased by 1,533,331; and Republicans increased by 306,941.

Of the parties that applied for ballot access this summer, 1,029 are registered for the We The People Party, 380 for the Constitution Party and 341 for the Justice For All Party.

The latter gained access when three Fayetteville residents filed and won a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections; Nine of the registrations are in Cumberland County.