Voter registration in Kentucky bucks trend, is sluggish

While Kentucky picked up some new registered voters this spring, the rolls didn't swell the way other states have seen, according to figures released by Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and the state board of elections. 

Kentucky gained 16,333 voters -- a growth rate of 0.58 percent -- since November, despite a highly competitive and unsettled Democratic presidential primary race that will be coming to Kentucky May 20.

With that race in mind, the Democrats saw the largest boost in new voters -- 13,259, compared to 2,577 new Republicans and 497 "others," which include independents, libertarians, green party members and more third parties.

The slight increase in voters between November '07 and the upcoming primary is less than the bump between the November '06 general election and the May 2007 primary, which was an increase of 28,725 voters, or 1 percent.

Grayson said he was "disappointed that Kentucky did not see dramatically increased registration figures as was seen in many other states this election cycle."

"I am encouraged that Kentucky has set a new voter registration record," he added in a statement. "It is my hope that Kentucky voters will become more engaged in the primary election races and that this increase in registrations will lead to a larger turnout on Election Day."

Here are the updated totals of registered voters for the May 20 primary:

• 1,629,845 Democratic voters (up 0.82 percent since November '07)
• 1,040,438 Republican voters (up 0.25 percent since November '07)
• 186,948 "other" voters (up 0.27 percent since November '07)

- Ryan Alessi