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While Luzerne County Democrats maintain their longtime voter registration lead, Republicans continue to pick up steam, the latest state statistics show.

Since the May 21 primary, the county added 714 more Republicans, bringing the total count to 77,577.

In comparison, the county’s Democratic registration decreased by 139 since May, to a new total 105,548.

The current registration difference between the two parties, which has been shrinking over recent elections: 27,971.

Looking back, the gap between the two parties was 44,655 in the November 2015 election. Four years prior, in 2011, the divide was 47,669.

David Sosar, a political science professor at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, said Thursday he is not surprised by the continued rise in Republicans and believes it largely stems from an aging county population. People often become more conservative as they grow older, he said.

But Sosar does not the Republican registration will reach a tipping point, in part because the growing Latino population in the county’s southern half has a “very strong” Democratic affiliation.

“I think you will always see Democrats hold a slight edge in the county,” Sosar asserted.

He also argues registration isn’t the only factor in voting selection, believing voters are increasingly willing to cross party lines to pick the candidate they like best. While Pennsylvania primaries force voters to nominate only candidates in their registered party, voters are free to select contenders from any party in general elections.

Retired Wilkes University political science professor Tom Baldino has said the rising Republican registration here mirrors what has been happening in southwestern Pennsylvania, excluding Pittsburgh, since at least the early 2000s.

Generally speaking, both that region and Northeastern Pennsylvania are largely working class and have declining or flat populations that are “aging, mostly white and growing more conservative,” Baldino has said, cautioning against stereotyping Democrats and Republicans into philosophical categories because social and economic views range from conservative to liberal within both parties.

The number of voters who are not registered as Democrats or Republicans also is increasing in the county, the state statistics show.

Since May, this group has grown by 476, for a new total of 25,841. In the 2011 general, there were 17,304 voters in this category.

Overall, the county now has 208,966 registered voters, or an increase of 1,051 since the May primary.

Upcoming vote

The county election office has posted a list of all Nov. 5 general election candidates and races under the “on election day” section of its page at www.luzernecounty.org.

Also under this link is a listing of all polling places, with changes highlighted. Some locations have moved due to a reconfiguration to address population and registration growth or decline and for other reasons, officials said.

Voters with concerns or questions, including the correct location of their polling place, should call the county election office at 570-825-1715.

Judge of Elections Veronica Palmer at Holy Trinity Church in Kingston assists a voter while Tom Alexander votes in April’s primary election.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL051618vote.jpg.optimal.jpgJudge of Elections Veronica Palmer at Holy Trinity Church in Kingston assists a voter while Tom Alexander votes in April’s primary election.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes

[email protected]

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.