Unaffiliated voter rolls grow as Utah Republican registration declines

Utah's unaffiliated voter rolls have grown by more than 29,000 this year, while Republicans have lost about 7,000 active voters, the Salt Lake Tribune reported in an analysis of state election data. ^[1]

Democrats gained more than 13,000 active voters, the newspaper reported. Republicans still hold a substantial registration lead in Utah. ^[1]

Part of the unaffiliated increase came when the No Labels party dissolved in February, moving roughly 10,000 voters to unaffiliated status. Even without that change, unaffiliated voters recorded the largest gains, according to the Tribune's analysis of Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office figures. ^[1] The office's data show 513,554 active unaffiliated voters, 912,508 active Republicans and 255,390 active Democrats as of Oct. 26, compared with 484,669, 921,870 and 239,108 in its Jan. 5 count; the No Labels party's 10,234 active voters were last counted Feb. 17. ^[2][3] The Oct. 26 page lists 1,786,666 active and 312,346 inactive registered voters, 2,099,015 in all. ^[2]

The report describes changes in registration, not election results. University of Utah political scientist Matthew Burbank told the newspaper it was unclear whether the trend would continue. ^[1]