PA Voter Registration Trends favor Dems/Independents

Pennsylvania Democrats will head into the midterm elections with a 600,000 edge among registered voters after out-gaining Republicans by some 50,000 in the past year.

The tally slightly widens the advantage Democrats had in the 2004 presidential election, when the state rolls reached a record 8.4 million registered voters and Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 580,000. The overall number fell substantially immediately after the election as the rolls were purged of inactive voters. Through Monday, the state had tallied 8.2 million registered voters.

This year's ballot features one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country, a gubernatorial election and — in several districts — tight congressional contests that could swing the balance in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both parties say they expect record turnouts for a midterm election.

Contributed by Alice Fling

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