Countdown to general election- 2 million people have not yet registered to vote

As we gear up for the 2024 election, alarming statistics have surfaced. According to the Orange County Register, 17% of voters remain unregistered, which means they won’t be eligible to vote by mail. This translates to approximately 2 million ballots that, if not registered and cast in person, will represent a lost opportunity—an astonishing number that surpasses the total population of several states, underscoring the seriousness of the issue.

The Register points out that in September 2020, a robust 85% of voters had completed their registration. Fast forward to this year, and that figure has dipped slightly to 83%. Despite the influx of new voters, there remain 2 million individuals who have yet to register. While there is an option for on-site registration and voting, it’s important to note that those ballots are deemed provisional and won’t be counted until the election office verifies the voter’s identity.

As of the end of September, the latest registration statistics by county are as follows:

– **Los Angeles County**: 85.7% registered, totaling 5.7 million individuals
– **Orange County**: 83% registered, totaling 1.8 million individuals
– **Riverside County**: 82% registered, totaling 1.3 million individuals
– **San Bernardino County**: 81% registered, totaling 1.2 million individuals

Comparing the new voter registrations from the 2020 election, the latest figures show:

– **Riverside County**: 179,336 new voters
– **Orange County**: 140,571 new voters
– **San Bernardino County**: 122,454 new voters
– **San Diego County**: 68,960 new voters
– **Los Angeles County**: 64,997 new voters

When it comes to party affiliation among registered voters, the distribution in California looks like this:

– **Statewide**: 46% Democratic, 25% Republican, 23% Independent
– **Los Angeles County**: 52.4% Democratic, 18% Republican, 23% Independent
– **Orange County**: 37% Democratic, 34% Republican, 23% Independent
– **Riverside County**: 39.6% Democratic, 32% Republican, 20% Independent
– **San Bernardino County**: 40% Democratic, 30% Republican, 21% Independent