Arizona sees spike in registered voters

PHOENIX — If recently released voter registration numbers are any indication, Arizonans are getting excited for the 2016 presidential election.

According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, the number of registered voters has grown to 3,252,687 since April — an increase of 16,997.

While the 2016 presidential election is more than a year away, the diversity of candidates is causing an earlier-than-usual political buzz. Arizona political expert Stan Barnes said, love him or hate him, Donald Trump is in part responsible for the voter registration increase.

“Say what you want about the guy but he has 100 percent name ID, and he has awakened voters who might normally be sleeping at this time in the election cycle,” Barnes said.

According to Barnes, social media may also be causing a rise in registered voters by drawing in millennials.
“People who have not previously registered to vote are being inspired to go vote because they are seeing so much action and attention on these issues,” he said.

Of the state’s registered voters, 34 percent are Republicans and 28 percent are Democrats. Independents now make up the state’s largest bloc totaling 36 percent of registered voters.