There’s been a surge in voter registration both statewide and in Kern County. Matt Levin of the non-partisan group CalMatters says Kern County has seen nearly 28 thousand people register since 2012. That means 68 percent of all eligible to vote have registered, but that’s short of the statewide rated of 73 percent. Not all groups are following the trends of the past as the CalMatters found Hispanics have been increasingly registering as independents rather than Democrat. Asian voters are moving away from conservative Republican voting towards Democrats. Levin won’t guess if it’s the presidential election driving the increase but he does say registering to vote is becoming easier all the time.

Republicans 38%, Democrats 36%, Independents 21% of total voters.

Sean Michael Lisle