Voter registration: Dems closing gap
NORWICH – The results from national polls that place Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama out in front of Sen. John McCain appear to be resonating locally as well.
According to Democratic Commissioner Carol Franklin, Democrats have narrowed the gap in the long-standing, Republican-controlled Chenango County. With 8,751 registered, the ratio between Republicans and Democrats is now less than 2 to 1.
Volunteerism at the party’s headquarters in Norwich is also up, said Democratic Party Chairman Patrick McNeil. “It’s the greatest I’ve seen in more than 30 years,” he said. The volunteers are manning headquarters and telephone banks and passing out signs, he said.
Eighty-three new voters registered Democrat over the past week compared to 56 new Republicans. There are 14,521 Republicans registered in total.
Republican Commissioner Harriet Jenkins said her party’s numbers are down slightly and could be a result of people moving out of the area.
Republican Party Chairman Thomas Morrone said his party has also been inundated with volunteers. “I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm for people wanting political signs in the 20 years that I’ve been chairman,” he said.
As for Obama, McNeil said he thought his candidacy would remain very strong. “His willingness to help the middle class is resonating well here, in these times. It’s critical that small and independent companies survive because they actually make corporate America strong. With Obama’s policies, they will be given a break.”
This year’s presidential election has turned into “a money race,” according to Morrone. He described Obama’s success at raising $150 million in 30 days as “amazing.”
“McCain is still the right person for president. I think the problem with our politics today is it’s gotten out of hand. It’s based on the dollar.”
Here’s a breakdown of the other party affiliations of the 32,587 registered voters in Chenango County:
Independent Party 1,550
Conservative Party 495
Working Families 173
Green Party 172
Libertarian Party 9
Socialist Working Party 0
Right to Life Party 0
Other 9
No party chosen 6,907
New York State certified machines for handicapped voters will be rolled out into 28 polling places by the end of next week. The Board of Elections is currently training inspectors to help voters who want to use them.
Jenkins said the new machines take 45 minutes on average for handicapped voters to use if they listen to the ballots being read via a headset. Able bodied voters who choose to use the new machines won’t be required to use the listening device, she said.
“We’ve had quite a few people panicking that they will have to listen to the ballot on the headset before voting on the new machines, but that’s not the case,” she said.
The new machines will replace the lever machines and be used by everyone in the primaries next September.
According to Democratic Commissioner Carol Franklin, Democrats have narrowed the gap in the long-standing, Republican-controlled Chenango County. With 8,751 registered, the ratio between Republicans and Democrats is now less than 2 to 1.
Volunteerism at the party’s headquarters in Norwich is also up, said Democratic Party Chairman Patrick McNeil. “It’s the greatest I’ve seen in more than 30 years,” he said. The volunteers are manning headquarters and telephone banks and passing out signs, he said.
Eighty-three new voters registered Democrat over the past week compared to 56 new Republicans. There are 14,521 Republicans registered in total.
Republican Commissioner Harriet Jenkins said her party’s numbers are down slightly and could be a result of people moving out of the area.
Republican Party Chairman Thomas Morrone said his party has also been inundated with volunteers. “I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm for people wanting political signs in the 20 years that I’ve been chairman,” he said.
As for Obama, McNeil said he thought his candidacy would remain very strong. “His willingness to help the middle class is resonating well here, in these times. It’s critical that small and independent companies survive because they actually make corporate America strong. With Obama’s policies, they will be given a break.”
This year’s presidential election has turned into “a money race,” according to Morrone. He described Obama’s success at raising $150 million in 30 days as “amazing.”
“McCain is still the right person for president. I think the problem with our politics today is it’s gotten out of hand. It’s based on the dollar.”
Here’s a breakdown of the other party affiliations of the 32,587 registered voters in Chenango County:
Independent Party 1,550
Conservative Party 495
Working Families 173
Green Party 172
Libertarian Party 9
Socialist Working Party 0
Right to Life Party 0
Other 9
No party chosen 6,907
New York State certified machines for handicapped voters will be rolled out into 28 polling places by the end of next week. The Board of Elections is currently training inspectors to help voters who want to use them.
Jenkins said the new machines take 45 minutes on average for handicapped voters to use if they listen to the ballots being read via a headset. Able bodied voters who choose to use the new machines won’t be required to use the listening device, she said.
“We’ve had quite a few people panicking that they will have to listen to the ballot on the headset before voting on the new machines, but that’s not the case,” she said.
The new machines will replace the lever machines and be used by everyone in the primaries next September.
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